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

The Staff Canteen

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.

April Lily Partridge, The Ledbury

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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The Staff Canteen

Editor 13th June 2023

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