Gareth Ward's 2 Michelin-starred Ynyshir named the best restaurant in the UK for the second year in a row at the National Restaurant Awards
two michelin-starred Ynyshir has been named the best restaurant in the UK for the second year in a row at The Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards 2023.
The restaurant with rooms on the west coast of Wales is overseen by chef-patron Gareth Ward, whose bold and uncompromising approach continues to challenge the UK’s fine dining scene with a singular Japanese-influenced tasting menu of numerous small courses.
On achieving the top spot again, Gareth said: "I completely didn’t expect it, everyone was saying ‘are you going to win it again this year?’ and I was like, listen, I feel super fortunate to have won it the first time so it’s someone else’s turn today. I couldn’t believe it, it’s such an honour and I was blown away.”
He added: “It’s a huge team effort for present and past – there are some absolutely incredible people who have gone through the doors at Ynyshir who have helped to make it what it is now and you can’t do it without them.”
“Ynyshir really is a restaurant like no other – where fun and fine dining combine for a truly remarkable experience,” says Restaurant editor Stefan Chomka. “Gareth Ward’s singular vision for what a restaurant can be, and his willingness to break down boundaries, are to be applauded. He leads by example by never missing a service, and he and his team are very worthy winners of this title again.”
As in 2022, second place goes to Moor Hall in Lancashire, while third place is awarded to Da Terra in east London, with a climb of eighteen places. This year’s list shows the return of the capital’s dominance in the restaurant scene, with a total of 54 restaurants from London in the top 100 list and only three in the top 10 located outside of London.
The highest new entry at number five and winner of the Opening of the Year award, sponsored by Tripleseat, goes to Henry Harris’ Bouchon Racine. In contrast to this year’s winner, Bouchon Racine celebrates classic French cuisine in a small dining room above a historic pub in Farringdon, London.
The Ledbury takes home the Service Award, sponsored by Liberty Wines and Rathfinny Wine Estate, while the restaurant’s 29-year-old sous chef April Lily Partridge has been named this year’s Chef to Watch, sponsored by Belazu Ingredient Co.
The Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Nespresso, goes to Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver of London’s St John.
The Sustainability Award goes to Pensons, which was recognised for its creation of an on-site laundry powered by solar panel and using collected rainwater, leading to a huge reduction in energy use and water consumption.
The Full List of Awards:
● Estrella Damm National Restaurant of the Year: Ynyshir
● Best Restaurant in England: Moor Hall
● Best Restaurant in Northern Ireland: Ox
● Best Restaurant in Wales: Ynyshir
● Best Restaurant in Scotland: The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant
● Chef of the Year: Kenny Atkinson
● Restaurateur of the Year, sponsored by Entegra: Samyukta Nair
● Chef to Watch, sponsored by Belazu Ingredient Co: April Lily Partridge
● Opening of the Year, sponsored by Tripleseat: Bouchon Racine
● One to Watch, sponsored by Woods Foodservice: The Midland Grand Dining Room
● The Sustainability Award, sponsored by Estrella Damm: Pensons
● Gastropub of the Year, sponsored by Estrella Damm: Parkers Arms
● The Service Award, sponsored by Liberty Wines and Rathfinny Wine Estate: The Ledbury
● Wine List of the Year: Maison Francois
● Cocktail List of the Year, sponsored by Franklin & Sons: Roots
● Innovator of the Year, sponsored by Sevenrooms: Apricity
● Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Nespresso: Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver
The National Restaurant Awards top 100
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
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