The Clink hopes to launch second prison restaurant in Cardiff

The Clink, the commercial restaurant at Her Majesty's Prison High Down in Sutton, Surrey, hopes to launch a second restaurant in Cardiff.

The Clink Charity has submitted a planning application to build a second Clink restaurant in conjunction with HMP Cardiff. If planning permission is granted, the restaurant will be built within the grounds of the prison but outside the main walls and will be complete by the end of 2012.

Chief executive Chris Moore commented: "The aim of the Clink Charity is to reduce re-offending rates of ex-offenders by training and placing graduates upon their release into the hospitality industry.

"The charity therefore represents a genuine opportunity for change, offering prisoners the chance to gain food preparation, food service and cleaning qualifications as well as experience within an exciting, operational business and in-depth guidance to find full-time employment within the hospitality industry upon release."

The Clink Charity is an innovative programme that works towards the rehabilitation of prisoners and securing its graduates full-time employment within the hospitality industry upon their release. So far it has trained 111 prisoners since opening in 2009, 26 of whom have been released with 22 currently in full-time employment and just two reoffending.

The day-to-day running of the Clink restaurant is overseen by Catey winner Alberto Crisci, catering manager at High Down Prison.

Antonio Carluccio made chef ambassador at High Down prison's Clink restaurant >>

Giorgio Locatelli and Vic Laws join the Clink prison restaurant as ambassadors >>

By Kerstin Kühn

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