THE Crown at Whitebrook has retained its Michelin star for the seventh year in succession.

News of the accolade is included in the 2013 Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland.

The Crown, a three AA rosette restaurant, was recently placed 27th in the influential The Good Food Guide 2013 with a cooking score of seven, the highest placed restaurant in Wales.

It gained its first Michelin star in 2007 which it has retained ever since. It is one of just four restaurants in Wales to hold a Michelin star.

The Crown's head chef, James Sommerin, said: "A Michelin star is an internationally coveted and universally recognised mark of excellence and one which we're extremely proud to be awarded and to retain year on year.

"The team at The Crown at Whitebrook all strive to ensure the work that we do is of a consistently excellent standard and we're delighted that this merits Michelin recognition."

James, from Caerleon, near Newport, was at the St Regis Hotel in Singapore on Sunday to represent the UK during a week-long cultural event.