Hotel staff shaken but not stirred by 007 visit
When the message came through to the kitchens at the Hand Hotel at Llanarmon that none other than Sir Roger Moore was in the dining room, chef Grant Mulholland was shaken – but not stirred.
The 007 star, his wife, Kristina, and their driver called in for lunch at the Hand while touring the area after a concert date at Salford Quays, Manchester, the previous evening.
And staff at the hotel and restaurant said the actor was the perfect gentleman that he portrays on screen.
Mr Mulholland said: "When one of the staff came into the kitchen and said that Roger Moore had just arrived, I didn't really believe it, but there he was."
"The party had smoked salmon and Welsh lamb pakoras then all three went for our locally sourced Ceiriog Valley trout. They all praised the dish."
Mr Mulholland said staff left the three in peace to have their meal on Monday but said that afterwards, in the bar, Sir Roger was happy to chat.
"They said that they had had a great time and had loved the area, they had never been to this part of the world before," he said.
"They relaxed in the bar for some time after their meal."
The chef then presented the 007 star with a book, Relish Wales, that features the Hand Hotel and asked him to autograph another for himself.
"He said he would only sign my copy if I would sign his," he said.
"He was so charming, really really nice. They were a pleasure to spend time with and it certainly brightened up our day.
"We have had some stars calling into the hotel but none as famous as Sir Roger Moore." He said he hoped the actor would pass on his recommendations for the hotel to others. "Who knows we may have a few more stars dropping in," he said.
Sir Roger Moore, 86, is currently on an autumn UK tour to celebrate 50 years of the James Bond films and visits Birmingham tonight.
In his theatre evening he discusses his astonishing life and career, with inside stories and exclusive anecdotes ranging from his internationally-renowned TV series The Saint and The Persuaders, through to Hollywood blockbusters and the 007 films, in which he starred as James Bond between 1973 and 1985.
