List of restaurants in Wales explained

This is a list of notable restaurants in Wales. The number of restaurants has significantly increased since the 1960s, when the country had very few notable places to eat out. Today, Wales is no longer considered a "gastronomic desert",[1] there are five Michelin starred restaurants within the country.[2] Other award systems from TripAdvisor and AA have included Welsh restaurants in their lists. The most significant increase in restaurants has been at the high-end, but there has been growth and improvement in quality across all the whole range of Welsh eateries.[1]

Many Welsh restaurants attempt to showcase their "Welshness", but few include historic Welsh dishes besides cawl. Instead, they showcase their Welsh ingredients, creating new dishes from them.[1] There has also been a rise in Asian cuisine in Wales, especially that of Indian, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian and Japanese, with a preference for spicier foods.[1]

Anglesey

Previously a butchers shop and converted into a restaurant which is known for having no menus and so relies on the choice of the chef, Stephen Stevens.[3] It has three AA rosettes rating.[4] Earned its first Michelin star in 2016.[5] [6]

Cardiff

Based within Prison ground this restaurant was owned by the Clink Charity. It opened in 2012 and employed 30 full-time staff who are inmates at the prison, under the supervision of head chef Mike Arnopp. The Clink was rated 10th on TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice Favourite Fine Dining Restaurants UK 2015.[7] [8] The Clink closed permanently in late 2022.[9]

Ceredigion

Ynyshir is run by Chef Patron Gareth Ward and his partner Amelia Eiriksson. It has a five AA rosette award[10] the first and only ever in Wales[11] and holds 2 Michelin star[12] and was named the 12th Best Restaurant in the UK and highest placed in Wales in the 2018 Good Food Guide.[13] [14] [15]

Conwy

17th century inn with an AA two rosette standard and 2015 AA award for Welsh pub of the year[16] [17] [18] It has also been awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence[19] [20] and was listed in the Lonely Planet guide to Europe's 50 best 'secret spot' locations in 2015[21]

16th century, Georgian, grade II listed building[22] It has previously held a Michelin star.[23] [24]

Denbighshire

Forming part of the hotel, the restaurant has been given a Michelin star[24] [12] [25] under Bryan Webb as head chef.[26] It has also been presented with Wine List of The Year Award 2016 from Good Food Guide,[27] and the AA wine award[28]

Gwynedd

Used prominently by walkers and hikers, this cafe has won the Best Cafe in Wales in the 2016 People's Choice Awards and the Best Walkers' Cafe 2015. It serves basic food such as "chip butties" and "pint mugs of tea"[29]

Grade II listed Georgian house[30] that has previously held a Michelin star.[24]

Monmouthshire

Formerly known as "The Crown at Whitebrook" and the inn dates back to the 17th century. It has a Michelin star under chef Chris Harrod and three AA Rosettes.[24] [31] [32] [33]

Opened in early 1960s and since then has featured on Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and held Michelin stars.[24] The Walnut Tree is now under the direction of head chef, Shaun Hill and the restaurant has since won Great Britain's Restaurant of the Year award,[34] Wales category at the annual National Restaurant Awards 2015,[35] has a Michelin star and three AA rosettes.[36]

Country road-side restaurant is owned and run by Stephen Terry who is also head chef.[37] It has been given a Bib Gourmand rating,[38] it got best restaurant in Wales at the National Restaurant Awards[39] and has received two AA rosettes.[40]

Owned and previously run by chef Matt Tebbutt, the Foxhunter had won the AA Restaurant of the Year 2004.[41] The pub was then leased out in 2014 and its focus was to return it to "its roots of a pub".[42]

Pembrokeshire

Grade II listed Georgian townhouse serving Welsh cuisine.

Set in an 18th-century mansion[43] it was awarded four Red Stars[44] and a triple AA rosette[45]

Based on a coast of Pembrokeshire this beachside restaurant is headed by chef Will Holland.[44] It was awarded the AA Welsh restaurant of the year in 2014.[45]

Powys

18th century coaching inn, the Checkers, offers a "set taster menu" and has had a Michelin star since 2012.[24] [12] [46] [47]

Restaurant and bar which uses local produce has been given the Bib Gourmand in Wales from the Red Michelin Guide, Inn of the Year for 2013 by The Good Pub Guide and has been featured in the Good Food Guide, Hardens and the Good Hotel Guide.[48] [49]

Overlooking the Irfon river[50] the Carlton Riverside, opened in 1991, is run by head chef, Mary Ann Gilchrist. It has previously had a Michelin star[24] and three AA rosettes.[51]

Grade II listed building with features retained from the original designs from the 17th century.[52] It has an AA three rosette award and has previously had a Michelin star.[24] [53]

Vale of Glamorgan

Named after its owner and head chef, James Sommerin, it was "ranked 24 in the UK in the Good Food Guide 2016 – the highest placed restaurant in Wales and was awarded three AA rosettes."[54] Permanently closed in July 2020.

Opened by James Sommerin in 2021, the restaurant gained a Michelin Star in 2022.[55]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Freeman. Bobby. First catch your peacock: her classic guide to Welsh food. 1996. Y Lolfa. Talybont, Ceredigion. 0862433150. Rev. paperback. 8, 52–53.
  2. Web site: 2016 Michelin Award summary. Michelin. 4 April 2016. 10. PDF. 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160325220008/http://travel.michelin.co.uk/ekmps/shops/michelin1/resources/Other/gbi-2016-award-summary.pdf.pdf. 25 March 2016.
  3. News: Gillan. Audrey. Sosban & the Old Butchers, Anglesey, review: 'Fine dining without all the fuss'. 4 April 2016. The Telegraph. 12 March 2016.
  4. Web site: Sosban & The Old Butcher's Restaurant. The AA. 4 April 2016.
  5. News: Gilbert. Ed. The plumber who became one of Wales' top Michelin-starred chefs. 26 May 2023. Wales Online. 26 February 2022.
  6. News: Hughes. Owen. Campbell. Jenna. Michelin-starred restaurant in Anglesey is put up for sale. 26 May 2023. Manchester Evening News. 4 October 2022.
  7. News: Cardiff's prisoner-run The Clink in UK's top 10 restaurants. 3 April 2016. BBC News. 14 October 2015.
  8. Web site: Cooking in the Clink. The Good Food Guide. 4 April 2016. 7 January 2013.
  9. News: HMP Cardiff's Clink Restaurant to shut . Wales Online . 6 September 2022 . 14 March 2023.
  10. Web site: Ynyshir. The AA. 4 April 2016.
  11. News: Ynyshir awarded five AA Rosettes. Boutique Hotel News. 2017-10-20. en-US.
  12. Web site: Michelin Guide Results 2016. Great British Chefs. 4 April 2016.
  13. News: Waitrose Good Food Guide. 19 October 2015. The Independent. 3 April 2016.
  14. Web site: Great British Chefs - Gareth Ward at Ynyshir. www.ynyshir.co.uk. 2017-10-20.
  15. News: Williams . Zoe . 2022-06-17 . ‘Not a place to relax’: Ynyshir, the £350-a-head Welsh techno inn atop the National Restaurant Awards . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-03-05.
  16. Web site: AA Pub of the Year - Wales 2015 Winner's Name: The Kinmel Arms. AA Hospitality Awards. 4 April 2016.
  17. Web site: The Kinmel Arms. The AA. 4 April 2016.
  18. News: Powell. David. Kinmel Arms, Conwy is AA Pub of the Year for Wales. 3 April 2016. Daily Post. 9 October 2015.
  19. News: Powell. David. Kinmel Arms, Abergele wins TripAdvisor 'excellence' award. 3 April 2016. Daily Post. 22 May 2015.
  20. News: Jordan. Suzanne. Abergele pub raises a glass to its customers after receiving top TripAdvisor award. 3 April 2016. Rhyl, Prestatyn & Abergele Journal. 1 June 2015.
  21. News: Owen. Cathy. Iceland’s hot springs, the Danube… and an unsung Welsh hotel makes it into Lonely Planet guide to Europe's 50 best 'secret spot' locations. 3 April 2016. Wales Online. 8 January 2015.
  22. Web site: The Old Rectory Country House. Visit Wales. 5 April 2016.
  23. News: Burt. Paddy. The Old Rectory Country House in North Wales. 5 April 2016. The Telegraph: Travel. 17 August 2002.
  24. News: Wales. 5 April 2016. Michelin Online. https://web.archive.org/web/20111010050315/http://www.michelinonline.co.uk/travelshop/star-history/2011/rg-wal.htm. 10 October 2011.
  25. Web site: Tyddyn Llan: Bryan Webb. Great British Chefs. 3 April 2016.
  26. News: Food group launched to boast the best of Swansea Bay. 3 April 2016. South Wales Evening Post. 7 March 2016.
  27. News: Davidson. Tom. Tyddyn Llan has best wine list in the UK. 3 April 2016. Daily Post. 26 August 2015.
  28. Web site: AA Hospitality Awards Restaurant awards. The AA. 4 April 2016.
  29. News: Bevan. Nathan. People's Choice Awards 2016: Pete's Eats in Llanberis wins Best Cafe in Wales. 4 April 2016. Wales Online. 10 March 2016.
  30. News: Welton. Blake. North Wales restaurants named in the Michelin 2016 Guide. 4 April 2016. Daily Post. 14 January 2016.
  31. Web site: The Whitebrook. The AA. 4 April 2016.
  32. Web site: Michelin Guide Results 2016. Great British Chefs. 4 April 2016.
  33. News: McCrum. Kirstie. Michelin-starred Crown at Whitebrook in surprise name change under new chef Chris Harrod. 4 April 2016. Wales Online. 16 February 2015.
  34. News: Abergavenny restaurant The Walnut Tree is named Best in Wales. 4 April 2016. South Wales Argus. 1 July 2015.
  35. News: Rhys. Steffan. The Walnut Tree in Abergavenny named best restaurant in Britain. 4 April 2016. Wales Online. 29 March 2013.
  36. Web site: The Walnut Tree Inn. Great British Chefs. 4 April 2016.
  37. News: Williams. Sally. Hardwick takes the AA’s restaurant title. 4 April 2016. Wales Online. 28 March 2013.
  38. News: Wales’ Michelin-starred restaurants retain prized status. 4 April 2016. Wales Online. 21 March 2013.
  39. News: Rowland. Paul. The Hardwick in Abergavenny named Wales' best restaurant. 4 April 2016. Wales Online. 8 October 2013.
  40. Web site: The Hardwick. The AA. 4 April 2016.
  41. Web site: Matt Tebbutt. BBC Food. 4 April 2016.
  42. News: McCrum. Kristie. TV chef Matt Tebbutt bidding farewell to The Foxhunter in Nantyderry. 4 April 2016. Wales Online. 18 December 2014.
  43. News: Lewis. Carys. Narberth's award-winning hotel, The Grove, scoops another accolade as it's named Welsh Hotel of the Year. 3 April 2016. Wales Online. 5 October 2015.
  44. News: Mainwaring. Rachel. Coast named best restaurant in Wales at the AA Hospitality Awards. 3 April 2016. Wales Online. 10 October 2015.
  45. News: The people behind these fabulous restaurants are coming to Oxwich. 3 April 2016. South Wales Evening Post. 4 March 2016.
  46. News: Michelin star for The Checkers restaurant in Montgomery. 3 April 2016. BBC News. 7 October 2011.
  47. News: Turner. Camilla. A la carte is off the menu as top restaurants cut down on waste. 3 April 2016. The Telegraph. 19 January 2016.
  48. News: Mccrum. Kirstie. Bib Gourmand Felin Fach Griffin appoints new head chef. 3 April 2016. Wales Online. 13 March 2015.
  49. News: Good Pub Guide: Felin Fach Griffin named UK's best inn. 3 April 2016. BBC News. 4 September 2012.
  50. Web site: Carlton Riverside. The AA. 4 April 2016.
  51. Web site: Mary Ann Gilchrist Carlton Riverside. Great British Chefs. 4 April 2016.
  52. Web site: Llangoed Hall, Bronllys. British Listed Buildings. 5 April 2016.
  53. Web site: Llangoed Hall. The AA. 5 April 2016.
  54. News: Price. Karen. The 9 luxury bedrooms you can now check into at Restaurant James Sommerin in Penarth. 3 April 2016. Wales Online. 14 March 2016.
  55. News: Bryant. Miranda. Home cooking: the British families who are winning Michelin stars . . 20 February 2022 . 18 March 2023 .

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