Gill Jenkins first opened the doors of Bizzie Lizzie's bistro in 1986. During the 20 years that her and her family have been running the restaurant she's seen a lot of changes but one thing has stayed the same, her commitment to providing good quality food in a welcoming environment.

Thinking about her time in the restaurant Gill says, "When I first opened the restaurant for a lot of our customers going out to for a meal was all about celebrating special occasions, back then food had to be more out of the ordinary to reflect the occasions people were celebrating. These day's lifestyles have changed, now people's palettes are more sophisticated and eating out is more of an everyday occurrence. Now I'd say our customers want simple food made from quality ingredients cooked well. Customers have more choice available to them now, there are so many other places to eat in Swansea now, so I never feel complacent about the restaurant, I know we have to keep evolving to meet the increasingly discerning tastes of our customers."

Evolve is certainly something Bizzie Lizzies has done during it's 20 year history. In the early days the menu was written up on a large chalkboard, with home made lasagne and salmon en crute served with a nice glass of blue nun being the order of the day. The quality tasty food served at reasonable prices ensured that Gill soon had a success on her hands. Many customers became loyal regulars and many friendships began with a night of partying with Gill in Bizzie Lizzies.

"Many of the families that we served back in the early days still eat here twenty years on, and I'm grateful and appreciative of all my customers who have supported us over the years. But sometimes it's funny to think that the children who celebrated their birthdays here when they were little are now bringing their own children here for birthday parties, seeing that always makes me smile, it's nice to think we are a part of peoples lives in that way"

In 2001 the black board menu was removed in order to make room for a small extension that added two more tables to the restaurant and crucially allowed customers access to dining area within the beautiful garden. The Garden is Gill's pride and joy and during the summer months, you'll find her towel in hand pottering around the garden tending to the hundreds of flowers and plants that make up this little haven on Walter Road. In 2002 all of Gill's hard work was rewarded when she won a gold award in the prestigious Swansea in Bloom competition. But the medal can't really do justice to the fantastic atmosphere the garden holds for dinners during the summer months. Indeed as soon as the first rays of spring sunshine hit Walter Road customers are asking for tables in the garden. As long as the weather allows the garden remains the place to enjoy a relaxing lunch hour away from the hurley burley of modern life. The garden has proved such a large success that in 2005 due to popular demand Gill installed large gas heaters so that customers could continue to enjoy the garden by candle-lit long after the sun has set on a summer evening.

These days Gill has passed the kitchen on to her two sons Carl and Leighton Jenkins, although many of the dishes on the menu are cooked to her original recipes like the famous nut roast, and the barbecue style ribs, today Gill prefers to let others have a chance at being a part of the Bizzie Lizzies team. The Kitchen is home to many training opportunities, with all full times kitchen assistants taking the opportunity to gain qualifications as recognition of the skills they learn working in this busy and dynamic kitchen.

Despite all the changes the Jenkins family still remain at the helm of good quality dinning in Swansea, with Gill's two sons continuing to produce amazing dishes in the restaurant that Gill first fell in love with twenty years ago.