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The cuisine at Ynyshir
(Image credit: The cuisine at Ynyshir)

The announcement of the National Restaurant Awards 2022 again confirmed London’s supremacy in the British dining scene. The capital occupies 60 out of the 100 best restaurant spots, as well as seven of the top 10. The two leading restaurants, however, will require London foodies to travel and attest to the vibrancy of the British scene as a whole: Ynyshir in Machynlleth, Powys (Wales) and Moor Hall in Aughton, Lancashire, occupy the first and second spots respectively.

Led by chef Gareth Ward, a protégé of the Nottinghamshire-based Sat Bains, and run by Ward’s Ward’s partner Amelia Eriksson, Ynyshir’s ‘ingredient led, flavour driven, fat fuelled and meat obsessed’ cuisine has been rewarded for ‘a peculiar but effective marriage of top-quality produce, Asian flavours and unusual technique served in a succession of tiny bites.’

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Gareth Ward, head chef at Ynyshir
(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

The wider list includes perennial favourites – think A Wong, The River Café, Chez Bruce and The Sportsman – as well as exciting recent openings such as Santiago Lastra’s Kol, Planque and BiBi.

The full 100 best restaurants list is available here.

Launched in 2007, the National Restaurant Awards are organised by Restaurant magazine with the aim of celebrating the UK’s best restaurants, chefs and front of house staff. Every year, the hospitality community gathers for the announcement of the 100 best restaurants list as well as a series of special awards. An academy of 200 experts drawn from across the industry, including food writers, chefs and restaurateurs, decides on the winning line up which celebrates both established and upcoming talent.

The 2022 special awards’ winners are as follows:

  • National Restaurant of the Year – Ynyshir
  • Gastropub of the Year – The Angel at Hetton
  • Best Restaurant in England – Moor Hall
  • Best Restaurant in Scotland – Inver
  • Best Restaurant in Northern Ireland – Ox
  • Chef of the Year – Simon Rogan (L’Enclume, Rogan & Co, Roganic, Henrock)
  • Chef to Watch – Spencer Metzger (The Ritz)
  • Opening of the Year – BiBi
  • Restaurateur of the Year – Dan and Natasha Smith (The Fordwich Arms, The Bridge Arms)
  • The Service Award – The Ritz
  • The Sustainability Award – Where The Light Gets In
  • One to Watch – Lisboeta
  • Cocktail List of the Year – Kol
  • Wine List of the Year – Noble Rot Soho
  • Food Lovers Award – Beach House
  • Lifetime Achievement Award – Ruth Rogers (The River Café)

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Noble Rot Soho
(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

Commenting on their impressive fourth consecutive win, Noble Rot founders Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew MW said: ‘We’re proud as Pommard to announce that Noble Rot Soho won ‘Wine List of the Year’ at The National Restaurant Awards on Monday. Thanks and love to our passionate buying, administration, front of house and kitchen teams who have made this possible, and you, dear Rotters, for your continued thirst and support. Keep drinking!’

The awards again confirmed that the UK is indeed the perfect place to keep eating & drinking.

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Ines Salpico
Ines Salpico
Editor

Ines is Decanter’s regional editor for Spain, Portugal and South America. Born and raised in Lisbon, Portugal, she grew up chasing her grandfather among his vines in Ribatejo and thus her love for all things wine began. After completing her Masters Degree in Architecture, Ines worked as a project manager while writing about wine and doing cellar consulting on the side. After moving to London in 2015, she decided to dedicate herself fully to the wine industry and joined the sommelier team at Michelin-starred Spring, Somerset House. Stints at Noble Rot and The Laughing Heart followed, while completing her WSET Diploma in Wines and Spirits. Her work as a judge and writer eventually became her full time commitment and she joined Decanter in 2019 as wine database editor.