This Welsh Restaurant Has Been Named Best In the UK

By Ellie Smith

1 year ago

Who struck gold at this year's National Restaurant Awards?


Fancy a table at the UK’s best restaurant? You’ll have to hop on a train to the west coast of Wales, home to Ynyshir, which has just struck gold at this year’s Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards.

A two Michelin-starred restaurant located within a country house hotel, Ynyshir has topped the chart for the second year in a row. The unique spot is designed as an immersive dining experience, with the kitchen headed up by chef-patron Gareth Ward. Guests are treated to a Japanese-inspired tasting menu which features tiny plates cooked over fire – think miso cured black cod, bluefin tuna with ginger and wasabi, and peking duck with hoisin, cucumber and spring onion. While you eat, DJs will curate a soundtrack – and if you fancy making a night of it, rooms are available to book too.

Scallop from Ynyshir

In second place is Moor Hall, another two Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms, this one in Lancashire. Here chef Mark Birchall and his team cook up seasonal, produce-driven menus made with high-quality ingredients – sustainability is a key focus, and the restaurant was awarded a Green Michelin Star alongside its many other accolades.

The sustainability award, though, went to Pensons, located on the historic Netherwood Estate. It was recognised for its creation of an on-site laundry powered by solar panel and using collected rainwater – which has resulted in a large reduction in energy use and water consumption. 

Pensons

Juliane Caillouette Noble, managing director at The Sustainable Restaurant Association, said: ‘Not only does the development of an on-site laundry have significant environmental benefits – that Pensons have measured and quantified – but it shines a light on the growing issue of water scarcity and has even created a new employment opportunity.

‘This initiative demonstrates the importance of taking a holistic and creative approach to sustainability to find solutions that work for your business,’ said Noble.

Elsewhere in the list, London dominated once again, with a total of 54 restaurants from the capital named in the top 100. Da Terra, Rafael Cagali’s east London restaurant, came in third place. Other London restaurants to make the top ten included: The Ledbury, Bouchon Racine, The Ritz, Core by Clare Smyth, Frog by Adam Handling and KOL.

The Ledbury

The Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards take place every year, naming the 100 best restaurants in the UK. Organised by Restaurant magazine, they are voted for by the UK’s leading chefs, restaurateurs and food writers.

See the full list of winners below.

  1. Ynyshir
  2. Moor Hall
  3. Da Terra
  4. The Ledbury
  5. Bouchon Racine
  6. Restaurant Pine
  7. The Ritz
  8. Core by Clare Smyth
  9. Frog by Adam Handling
  10. KOL
  11. Kitchen Table
  12. The Parkers Arms
  13. Sabor
  14. Alex Dilling at the Cafe Royal
  15. The Sportsman
  16. Claude Bosi at Bibendum
  17. Solstice
  18. A Wong
  19. Brat
  20. Kiln
  21. Ikoyi
  22. Alchemilla
  23. House of Tides
  24. Osip
  25. Roots
  26. Fallow
  27. The Angel at Hetton
  28. The Seahorse
  29. BiBi
  30. L’Enclume
  31. The French House
  32. Noble Rot Soho
  33. Paul Ainsworth at No 6
  34. Trinity
  35. The Clove Club
  36. The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant
  37. The Fordwich Arms
  38. Endo at the Rotunda
  39. Benares
  40. SOLA
  41. The Palmerston
  42. Chez Bruce
  43. Maison Francois
  44. The Black Swan at Oldstead
  45. The Quality Chophouse
  46. Dorian
  47. Hide
  48. Luca
  49. Allegra
  50. Humble Chicken
  51. Higher Ground
  52. The Man Behind the Curtain
  53. Opheem
  54. Brawn
  55. Wilson’s
  56. Launceston Place
  57. Speedboat Bar
  58. 40 Maltby Street
  59. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
  60. Forest Side
  61. Cafe Cecilia
  62. Angela’s
  63. Hjem
  64. HUMO
  65. Restaurant Sat Bains
  66. Smoking Goat
  67. Apricity
  68. Northcote
  69. Manteca
  70. Rochelle Canteen
  71. Mana
  72. Sessions Arts Club
  73. Singburi
  74. St John
  75. Grace & Savour
  76. The River Cafe
  77. The Unruly Pig
  78. Updown Farmhouse
  79. Ox
  80. Inver
  81. Aizle
  82. Raby Hunt
  83. Quo Vadis
  84. Carters of Moseley
  85. Lisboeta
  86. Lyle’s
  87. Mangal 2
  88. Restaurant 22
  89. Etch
  90. Straker’s
  91. Upstairs by Tom Shepherd
  92. Joro
  93. The Kitchin 
  94. Frenchie
  95. Dew Drop Inn
  96. SY23
  97. The Pem
  98. The Tamil Prince
  99. Café Deco
  100. Manifest

Find out more at nationalrestaurantawards.co.uk