List of restaurants in Wales

The Crown at Whitebrook, Monmouthshire

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.[1] Today, Wales is no longer considered a "gastronomic desert";[1] there are six 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

[edit]

* Sosban and The Old Butchers, Menai Bridge

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

[edit]

* The Clink, 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

[edit]

* Ynyshir, Eglwys Fach

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][13] and was named the 12th Best Restaurant in the UK and highest placed in Wales in the 2018 Good Food Guide.[14][15][16]

## Conwy

[edit]

* Kinmel Arms, Abergele

17th century inn with an AA two rosette standard and 2015 AA award for Welsh pub of the year[17][18][19] It has also been awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence[20][21] and was listed in the Lonely Planet guide to Europe's 50 best 'secret spot' locations in 2015[22]

* The Old Rectory Country House, Glan Conwy

16th century, Georgian, grade II listed building[23] It has previously held a Michelin star.[24][12]

## Denbighshire

[edit]

* Tyddyn Llan at Llandrillo

Forming part of the hotel, the restaurant has been given a Michelin star[12][13][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

[edit]

* Pete's Eats Cafe, Llanberis

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]

* Plas Bodegroes, Pwllheli

Grade II listed Georgian house[30] that has previously held a Michelin star.[12]

## Monmouthshire

[edit]

* The Whitebrook, Whitebrook

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.[12][31][32][33]
* The Walnut Tree, Abergavenny

Opened in early 1960s and since then has featured on Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and held Michelin stars.[12] 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]
* The Bell, at Skenfrith has been listed among Britain’s best country pub/restaurants by Condé Nast Traveller, Time Out and The Times.[37][38][39] The pub's hotel rooms won a César award from the Good Hotel Guide in 2021.[40]

## Pembrokeshire

[edit]

* Cnapan Hotel, Newport

Grade II listed Georgian townhouse serving Welsh cuisine.
* The Grove, Narberth

Set in an 18th-century mansion[41] it was awarded four Red Stars[42] and a triple AA rosette[43]
* Coast Saundersfoot, Saundersfoot

Based on a coast of Pembrokeshire this beachside restaurant is headed by chef Will Holland.[42] It was awarded the AA Welsh restaurant of the year in 2014.[43]

## Powys

[edit]

* The Checkers, Montgomery

18th century coaching inn, the Checkers, offers a "set taster menu" and has had a Michelin star since 2012.[12][13][44][45]
* The Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon

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.[46][47]
* Carlton Riverside, Llanwrtyd Wells

Overlooking the Irfon river[48] the Carlton Riverside, opened in 1991, is run by head chef, Mary Ann Gilchrist. It has previously had a Michelin star[12] and three AA rosettes.[49]
* Llangoed Hall, Brecon

Grade II listed building with features retained from the original designs from the 17th century.[50] It has an AA three rosette award and has previously had a Michelin star.[12][51]

## Vale of Glamorgan

[edit]

* Restaurant James Sommerin, Penarth

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."[52] Permanently closed in July 2020.

* Home, Penarth

Opened by James Sommerin in 2021, the restaurant gained a Michelin Star in 2022.[53]

## See also

[edit]

* List of Michelin-starred restaurants in Wales
* Welsh cuisine

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Freeman, Bobby (1996). First catch your peacock: her classic guide to Welsh food (Rev. paperback ed.). Talybont, Ceredigion: Y Lolfa. pp. 8, 52–53\. ISBN 0862433150.
2. ^ "Michelin Star Restaurants in Wales". Retrieved 23 August 2024.
3. ^ Gillan, Audrey (12 March 2016). "Sosban & the Old Butchers, Anglesey, review: 'Fine dining without all the fuss'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
4. ^ "Sosban & The Old Butcher's Restaurant". The AA. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
5. ^ Gilbert, Ed (26 February 2022). "The plumber who became one of Wales' top Michelin-starred chefs". Wales Online. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
6. ^ Hughes, Owen; Campbell, Jenna (4 October 2022). "Michelin-starred restaurant in Anglesey is put up for sale". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
7. ^ "Cardiff's prisoner-run The Clink in UK's top 10 restaurants". BBC News. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
8. ^ "Cooking in the Clink". The Good Food Guide. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
9. ^ "HMP Cardiff's Clink Restaurant to shut". Wales Online. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
10. ^ "Ynyshir". The AA. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
11. ^ "Ynyshir awarded five AA Rosettes". Boutique Hotel News. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
12. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Wales". Michelin Online. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
13. ^ a b c "Michelin Guide Results 2016". Great British Chefs. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
14. ^ "Waitrose Good Food Guide". The Independent. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
15. ^ "Great British Chefs - Gareth Ward at Ynyshir". www.ynyshir.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
16. ^ Williams, Zoe (2022-06-17). "'Not a place to relax': Ynyshir, the £350-a-head Welsh techno inn atop the National Restaurant Awards". The Guardian. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
17. ^ "AA Pub of the Year - Wales 2015 Winner's Name: The Kinmel Arms". AA Hospitality Awards. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
18. ^ "The Kinmel Arms". The AA. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
19. ^ Powell, David (9 October 2015). "Kinmel Arms, Conwy is AA Pub of the Year for Wales". Daily Post. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
20. ^ Powell, David (22 May 2015). "Kinmel Arms, Abergele wins TripAdvisor 'excellence' award". Daily Post. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
21. ^ Jordan, Suzanne (1 June 2015). "Abergele pub raises a glass to its customers after receiving top TripAdvisor award". Rhyl, Prestatyn & Abergele Journal. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
22. ^ Owen, Cathy (8 January 2015). "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". Wales Online. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
23. ^ "The Old Rectory Country House". Visit Wales. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
24. ^ Burt, Paddy (17 August 2002). "The Old Rectory Country House in North Wales". The Telegraph: Travel. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
25. ^ "Tyddyn Llan: Bryan Webb". Great British Chefs. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
26. ^ "Food group launched to boast the best of Swansea Bay". South Wales Evening Post. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
27. ^ Davidson, Tom (26 August 2015). "Tyddyn Llan has best wine list in the UK". Daily Post. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
28. ^ "AA Hospitality Awards Restaurant awards". The AA. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
29. ^ Bevan, Nathan (10 March 2016). "People's Choice Awards 2016: Pete's Eats in Llanberis wins Best Cafe in Wales". Wales Online. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
30. ^ Welton, Blake (14 January 2016). "North Wales restaurants named in the Michelin 2016 Guide". Daily Post. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
31. ^ "The Whitebrook". The AA. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
32. ^ "Michelin Guide Results 2016". Great British Chefs. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
33. ^ McCrum, Kirstie (16 February 2015). "Michelin-starred Crown at Whitebrook in surprise name change under new chef Chris Harrod". Wales Online. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
34. ^ "Abergavenny restaurant The Walnut Tree is named Best in Wales". South Wales Argus. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
35. ^ Rhys, Steffan (29 March 2013). "The Walnut Tree in Abergavenny named best restaurant in Britain". Wales Online. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
36. ^ "The Walnut Tree Inn". Great British Chefs. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
37. ^ Gardener, Cerys (28 April 2024). "The Welsh pub with 'idyllic views' named one of the best in UK by Time Out". Wales Online. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
38. ^ Moreau, Charlotte (26 November 2023). "Herefordshire border pub top-rated by Conde Nast Traveller". Hereford Times. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
39. ^ Chesshyre, Tom (15 December 2012). "The Cool Hotel Guide: The Bell at Skenfrith". The Times. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
40. ^ Williams, Kathryn (13 October 2021). "The Welsh hotels named among the best in the UK by The Good Hotel Guide". Wales Online. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
41. ^ Lewis, Carys (5 October 2015). "Narberth's award-winning hotel, The Grove, scoops another accolade as it's named Welsh Hotel of the Year". Wales Online. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
42. ^ a b Mainwaring, Rachel (10 October 2015). "Coast named best restaurant in Wales at the AA Hospitality Awards". Wales Online. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
43. ^ a b "The people behind these fabulous restaurants are coming to Oxwich". South Wales Evening Post. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
44. ^ "Michelin star for The Checkers restaurant in Montgomery". BBC News. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
45. ^ Turner, Camilla (19 January 2016). "A la carte is off the menu as top restaurants cut down on waste". The Telegraph. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
46. ^ Mccrum, Kirstie (13 March 2015). "Bib Gourmand Felin Fach Griffin appoints new head chef". Wales Online. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
47. ^ "Good Pub Guide: Felin Fach Griffin named UK's best inn". BBC News. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
48. ^ "Carlton Riverside". The AA. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
49. ^ "Mary Ann Gilchrist Carlton Riverside". Great British Chefs. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
50. ^ "Llangoed Hall, Bronllys". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
51. ^ "Llangoed Hall". The AA. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
52. ^ Price, Karen (14 March 2016). "The 9 luxury bedrooms you can now check into at Restaurant James Sommerin in Penarth". Wales Online. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
53. ^ Bryant, Miranda (20 February 2022). "Home cooking: the British families who are winning Michelin stars". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2023.

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