A Gwynedd restaurant named the best “seaside hidden gem” in North Wales will become the centre of the Formula 1 world for a few hours later this month. Collectables from across the motor racing world have been donated to an auction on behalf of F1 legend Jackie Stewart’s charity.

Guests and visitors to the event at Nineteen.57 Restaurant & Bar can also race around Silverstone in an F1 simulator and watch the Mexico F1 race live. F1 superstars have shared video clips wishing the eaterie the best of luck with the auction on Sunday, October 29.

Nineteen.57 is next door to Islawrffordd Caravan Park in the village of Talybont near Barmouth. The park has long been associated with F1 through its links to Nigel Mansell, still the only driver to win the F1 World Championship and US Indy Car World Series in successive years.

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Mansell was aged just four when he first stayed at the newly opened caravan park with his family in 1957 – hence the restaurant’s name. It kindled a lifelong interest in caravanning and he still visits Islawrffordd 66 years on. It was there that he began his road to F1 stardom, racing around a farm field in a box kart in between helping milk cows. Legend has it the kart was made using a lawnmower engine by the late Gwynfor Evans, the farmer who established Islawrffordd and turned it into one of the most prestigious in Wales.

Later, Mansell returned the favour by opening the new £700,000 Nineteen.57 restaurant in 2015. It was built on the site’s old Henry’s Bar, by then a “sticky floor” facility in need of an update.

Current owners Chris and Emma Statham said donations of F1 memorabilia are still flooding in. “We had a notification that Nigel Mansell dispatched a box from Florida two days ago,” said Chris. “He was quite cute – he didn't say what was in it, which got us all guessing. It arrived on Friday - sadly, it wasn't one of his F1 helmets but it was still an absolute treasure trove of F1 memorabilia, including a signed Ferrari steering wheel. It was gratefully received and will certainly be of interest to collectors and enthusiasts.”

Also on the way to Talybont is a pair of signed gloves worn by George Russell at last month’s F1 Grand Prix in Japan. One item likely to attact F1 connoisseurs is a Silverstone raceday media vest signed by Ayrton Senna.

Signed photographs include one by seven-times world champ Michael Schumacher, and another by Jenson Button on the podium after his first F1 win in Budapest. A Ferarri cap signed by Alonso, and a 2023 Australia race programme signed by Hamilton, Verstappen and Alonso, are also among the growing list of auction lots.

Bids will be overseen by a park regular with connections to the F1 circuit. Among the guests will be another park guest who drives an Aston Martin with an “F1” numberplate. Proceeds will go to Race Against Dementia, the charity set up by three-times F1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart following his wife Helen’s diagnosis.

Mansell is currently auctioning more than 300 items previously housed in his Jersey museum. Running between October 4-11, Sotheby’s is selling “hugely personal” items including 32 racing helmets, 50 race suits, 78 baseball caps and more than 200 trophies and awards. His “final F1 win helmet” could fetch up to £50,000.

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Also on October 29, Nineteen.57 is hosting a five-course fine dining meal with lobster and Welsh Beef on the menu. Tickets for this have sold out but all are welcome to try an F1 simulator (£5 for two laps), bid at the auction and then watch the Mexico F1 race live from 8pm.

Overseeing the meal will be head chef Sion Wellings, who worked at Portmeirion Hotel before switching to Nineteen.57, running it with his mother Iola from its inception until 2019. That year it was named the best restaurant in North Wales at the Restaurant Awards in Cardiff. When it was acquired by the Stathams in late 2019, they were keen to keep Sion on board.

“That was a key priority, to ensure continuity,” said Chris. “He has a fine dining background and, if you don’t tie down talented chefs, they have a habit of moving on!”

As a partner in the business, Sion helped oversee rapid expansion in the wake of the Covid pandemic. Successive lockdowns reinforced to need to provide outdoor terraced dining and drinks; with the addition of a second kitchen, this enabled covers to be doubled.

“Sitting on the terrace, the Evans family have said they could never have dreamed such a place was possible when they first opened the caravan park,” said Chris. “When the sun is out, they say you could be anywhere in the world.

“When we took over the restaurant, annual turnover was around £500,000 and it had 21 staff. Now it’s a £1.1m business employing 48 people in peak season.”

In November, Nineteen.57 will be officially named as North Wales winner of the “Best Hidden Gem Seaside Restaurant and Bar” title. The award was made by LUXLife, an international lifestyle magazine, following a PowerPoint presentation.

Despite previous accolades, and a recent TripAdvisor commendation, Nineteen.57 qualified as a “hidden gem” owing to its location. “Geographically, we are hidden,” said Emma.

“As we’re based next to the caravan park, you wouldn’t know we were here. It was only in the last three months that a brown sign was erected at the top of the lane indicating our location. Over the years the number of people who have looked for us, but couldn’t find us, is unbelievable!”

• For updates on Nineteen.57’s Formula One day, visit its Facebook page. Details of Islawrffordd Caravan Park can be found here.

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