Ynyshir chef paron Gareth Ward plans to "keep pushing and getting better and better" following his Wales restaurant's historic win at the National Restaurant Awards earlier this week (13 July).
Located in Machynlleth, the country house hotel-based restaurant is the first outside of England to claim the top spot in the award’s 16-year history.
Speaking after the awards, Ward said that his ultimate goal was to "put Ynyshir on the World map".
He went on to thank his team, which is led by his partner and Ynyshir creative director Amelia Eiríksson and in the kitchen by his head chef Corrin Harrison.
The restaurant is as far removed as possible from its traditional setting - combining a thumping soundtrack with a succession of tiny plates of punchy, Japan-influenced cuisine cooked over fire.
Produce is largely sourced locally and much of it is aged in-house and the chefs serve dishes directly to the diners’ tables.
“What Gareth Ward has done at Ynyshir is remarkable,” says Stefan Chomka, editor of Restaurant by BigHospitality, which organises the awards. “Taking on a restaurant located in a traditional country house hotel and putting such a personal and edgy stamp on it was a bold, brave move – a real statement of intent – but one that has really paid off."
“Ynyshir is without doubt one of the most unique and exciting places to eat in the UK at the moment, possibly in the world, and is a very worthy winner of this year’s awards. Congratulations to Gareth and the team.”
