A switch of career from acting to working in hospitality has seen talented Saundersfoot restaurant worker Charly Dix named as Welsh tourism’s “rising star”.
Charly Dix works at Lan y Môr, the stunning Michelin-rated beachside restaurant at Coppet Hall Beach, Saundersfoot. She joined Lan y Môr as head waitress last summer, and was recently promoted to Assistant Restaurant Manager.
Her dedication to hospitality hasn’t gone unnoticed and Charly took the top honour in the Rising Star category at The National Tourism Awards of Wales.
The awards were staged by the Welsh Government and Visit Wales at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.
Charly said being voted winner of the Rising Star award was a credit to her early training as an actor.
She explained: “I trained as an actor before switching careers to come into hospitality. I have not a single regret as I love my job at Lan y Môr.
“I get to learn so much about this fantastic industry and work in one of the newest, most up and coming restaurants in Wales. Plus I get to meet some great people, both among my fellow staff and our interesting customers.
“But I think my actor training has given me an advantage in getting off to a flying start. As an actor we were taught to observe people carefully, to tune in to different moods and behaviours. I carried on doing that when I first came into hospitality as a waitress.
"I found I could tell if people were feeling happy or uncomfortable, if they wanted a bit of banter with their meal or preferred to be left quietly. It helped me develop a better rapport with our clients and become better at my job. I think I will always draw on those skills as I progress with my career.”
She said one of her biggest fans is her six-year-old son Alfie, who she loves to go home to and tell all about life at the restaurant.
She said: “If ever I am nominated for any award he always jokingly says to me, ‘bad luck, mum’ and that’s what he said tonight. But he’ll be thrilled when I go home and tell him we won!”
A total of 48 finalists from across Wales were shortlisted in 12 categories in the awards scheme.
The categories ranged from Best Hotel to Best Event and included awards for Sustainable Tourism, Accessibility and Inclusivity and Dog Friendliness.
The event was hosted by Aled Rhys Jones, well-known broadcaster and Chief Executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, and it was sponsored by foodservice company Castell Howell.
Entertainment at the awards ceremony was provided by the popular Welsh of the West End group who reached the semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent and Band Pres Llareggub (Llareggub Brass Band) with their exciting blend of Welsh language pop, traditional New Orleans jazz and New York Hip Hop.
All the winners were congratulated by Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning.