Holiday 2025 | 25 Sandwich Shop Owner of the Year 2025 (Wales): William Evans Everyone aspires to leave their mark on the world, yet few manage to build not just one legacy, but two. William Evans, a distinguished athlete turned entrepreneur has done just that – earning widespread recognition in both rugby and the hospitality industry. As he is honoured in the Restaurant and Bar Awards 2025 for his outstanding Subway franchise, we take a closer look at how this driven and dynamic trailblazer has made a lasting, positive impact on his community. William Evans is an inspirational individual who has spent his professional career giving back to his hometown community of Newport, South Wales. Initially, William played several seasons of semi-professional rugby for local teams, including Newport, Mosely, and Merthyr. He played for the Black and Ambers for seven seasons before retiring due to a neck injury. Following surgery on his neck, William returned to play for Merthyr, but his neck was damaged once again within the first game of the season. It was at this point that William knew he must prioritise his health and retire from rugby. With newfound time to nurture his entrepreneurial flair, William established Evans Partners in 2019, his flagship company overseeing his Subway locations across South Wales. William had already established himself within this sector, having been involved in various restaurant projects comprising catering, consulting, and franchising since 2016 and holding the position of self-employed Director of SnackFit, a vending company he established to maintain and replenish vending machines with healthy food and beverages. Today, William operates a thriving network of seven Subway franchises across South Wales, with locations in Newport Retail Park, Malpas, Caerleon Road, and Cardiff Road in Newport, alongside Thornhill, and the more recent additions of St Mary’s Street and Duke Street in Cardiff. Employing more than 70 people throughout his locations, William has made a lasting impact on the local economy by introducing a number of jobs and opportunities to the area, quickly becoming a respected and renowned figure to his local community. In his pursuit of continuous improvement, William completed the major refurbishment of his Newport Retail Park location in late 2024. To secure funding for such an ambitious project, he sought the help of his childhood friend Ben Davies. Ben, who has known William since being in nursery together, is the Co-Founder of Hexa Finance – a leading financial services and consultancy business. Collaborating closely with Hexa Finance enabled William to secure assets such as media screens, a commercial vehicle, access to acquisition-led funding, and working capital facility to manage daily expenses. This partnership ensured that William, and Evans Partners by extension, was equipped with the financial tools to facilitate sustainable, longterm growth. William has been fortunate to receive support from those around him, and he has wholeheartedly returned this fortune to his community tenfold. Though he has taken a step back from his rugby career, he has still remained close with his athletic passion and proudly sponsors a number of local football and rugby clubs, along with Mica Moore, a member of the Jamaican Olympian bobsledding team. In fact, it was Mica who led the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completed refurbishment in Newport Retail Park. Not only does William maintain close ties with his sporting background, but he is also sure to retain a close relationship with all members of his local community. William has spent much of his professional career giving back, and this drive is not deterred by the holiday seasons; since 2022, he has opened up his store on Christmas Day to provide free food, shelter, and company for those in need, even partnering with Welsh brewery Tiny Rebel in 2025 to distribute heated dinners later on in the day. This tradition represents everything that William and his Subway franchises stand for and are hoped to be continued with the help of his young son, Hudson, who looks to follow in his father’s altruistic, entrepreneurial footsteps. This year, the pair have worked with the Subway team to collect 232 Easter eggs for children in care, yet another example of the incredible impact that William, Hudson, and his expanding Subway franchise have had on the local community since establishing his first ever location. From his keen business acumen to his philanthropy, William emulates everything that a businessowner should aspire to be. He has led his Subway franchise to great heights – such as increasing his team to 90 plus members – and has no plans to slow his momentum, with the aim of establishing approximately 8 stores in and around Newport, Cwmbran, and Cardiff by 2030. For his impeccable demonstration of exceptional leadership, William has been bestowed with the well-deserved title of Wales’s Sandwich Shop Owner of the Year 2025. Contact: William Evans Company: Subway Web Address: www.linkedin.com/in/williamevans-6426b7156/
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