Last weekend topped off a busy and successful few months for the award winning Dragon Palace Restaurant as the team invited customers to join them to celebrate a traditional Chinese New Year in style.

Over the year the establishment which is located in Pentlepoir, near Saundersfoot has scooped numerous awards across Wales and the UK, including ‘Best Chinese Restaurant’ at The Welsh Asian Food Awards; as well as winning ‘Best in Wales’ at the Golden Chopsticks Awards and The Food Awards Wales.

To celebrate the Chinese New Year the restaurant held their annual event where guests could experience a traditional Lion Dance impressively performed by Jason Crabtree and his pupils of the Wales Lau Gar Kuen Kung Fu School.

Such was the demand that there were two packed sittings at the popular restaurant.

Proprietor Lok Cheung and his wife Jenny along with their chefs carefully prepared an authentic lavish three-course banquet which was served by their friendly and efficient staff for diners to enjoy, before the spectacular Lion Dance brought the celebrations to a rousing climax - and there were even cries for more!

Pupils from nearby Stepaside School also visited the restaurant on Tuesday to learn about the Chinese New Year from proprietor Lok and his staff.

2020 is the Year of the Rat and in Chinese Culture, rats are seen as a sign of wealth and surplus and married couples prayed to them for children.

After the celebrations, Lok thanked everyone who attended the Lion Dance performances and said that it made celebrating Chinese New Year even more special to have friends and family present.

“Just wishing everyone a prosperous and healthy New Year of the rat and thank you to everyone who came and celebrated with us,” he said.

“It was another full house and everyone seemed to have a super time.

“Thank you to everyone who supports us throughout the year, and thank you to all our suppliers. Thanks also to all our family and friends and staff who are always there!

He also thanked Jason Crabtree and his team for the spectacular Lion Dance.

“They were absolutely fantasic,” said Lok, who also proudly announced that he and Jenny were expecting another baby later in the year.

Everyone present congratulated them both on their wonderful news and wished them all the best.

Recently, Lok and Jenny took over the Woodridge Inn in Pentlepoir, so look out for exciting developments at their new premises in February.