THE UK'S TOP RESTAURANTS ARE NAMED

Ynyshir in Wales has been named the UK’s best restaurant, making it the first time in the award’s 16-year history that a restaurant outside of England has claimed the top spot. Gareth Ward accepted the award for the UK’s best restaurant to a standing ovation alongside his wife and head chef Corrin Harrison.

Simon Rogan, chef-patron of L’Enclume in Cumbria, was named this year’s Chef of the Year, while The Ritz restaurant takes home The Service Award. Staying with The Ritz, the restaurant’s head chef Spencer Metzger is also winner of the Chef to Watch award. Restaurateur of the Year goes to Dan and Natasha Smith from The Fordwich Arms and The Bridge Arms, both in Kent.

Our very own Sabor came in at number 15 and St John at 31 in the top 100 for 2022.

The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Ruth Rogers, chef-owner of London’s The River Cafe, making her the first female in the awards 16-year history to take home the coveted prize.

Rogers dedicated her award to her peers in a poignant speech on quoting Issac Newton. “If I can see more”, said Ruth, “it’s because I’m standing on the shoulders of others”, before bringing on her River Café team including head chef Sian Wyn Owen, Joseph Travelli and Vashti Ahmet.

For the first time in the history of the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards, the public was asked to vote on their favourite restaurant in the UK. The inaugural Food Lovers Award goes to Beach House in Oxwich.

The Sustainability Award goes to Stockport restaurant Where The Light Gets In.

The winners were announced on Monday 13th June at a ceremony held at The Hurlingham Club in London by Restaurant by BigHospitality. The full list of the UK’s Top 100 Restaurants can be found below.

The full list of winners at the National Restaurant 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: Inver

Chef of the Year, sponsored by Ritter Courivaud: Simon Rogan, Umbel Restaurant Group

Restaurateur of the Year, sponsored by Entegra: Dan and Natasha Smith, The Fordwich Arms and The Bridge Arms

Chef to Watch, sponsored by Belazu Ingredient Co.: Spencer Metzger

Opening of the Year, sponsored by OpenTable: BiBi

One to Watch, sponsored by Woods Foodservice: Lisboeta

The Sustainability Award, sponsored by Estrella Damm: Where The Light Gets In

Gastropub of the Year, sponsored by Estrella Damm: The Angel at Hetton

The Service Award, sponsored by Liberty Wines and Rathfinny Wine Estate: The Ritz

Wine List of the Year, sponsored by Bibendum Wine: Noble Rot Soho

Cocktail List of the Year, sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka: KOL

Food Lovers Award: The Beach House Restaurant, Oxwich

Lifetime Achievement Award: Ruth Rogers, The River Café.


1. Ynyshir
2. Moor Hall

3. Brat
4. The Ritz
5. BiBi
6. The Ledbury
7. A Wong
8. Core by Clare Smyth
9. Ikoyi
10. L’Enclume
11. Manteca
12. The Angel at Hetton
13. Fallow
14. House of Tides
15. Sabor
16. Perilla
17. The Fordwich Arms
18. Da Terra
19. Kiln
20. KOL

21. Noble Rot Soho
22. Brawn
23. Inver
24. Lyle’s
25. Trinity
26. The River Café
27. Tony Parkin at the Tudor Room
28. Kitchen Table
29. Claude Bosi at Bibendum
30. Sessions Arts Club
31. St. JOHN
32. The Black Swan at Oldstead
33. Chez Bruce
34. Restaurant Story
35. Mangal 2
36. Planque
37. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
38. 40 Maltby Street
39. Restaurant Sat Bains
40. The French House
41. Bright
42. The Guinea Grill
43. Frog by Adam Handling
44. Parker’s Arms
45. Pollen Street Social
46. Silo

47. The Sportsman
48. Pine

49. Maison François
50. Native at Browns
51. Evelyn’s Table
52. Hjem
53. Allegra
54. Erst
55. The Clove Club
56. The Seahorse
57. Elystan Street
58. Etch
59. SOLA
60. Trattoria Brutto
61. The Man Behind the Curtain
62. Frenchie
63. Hélène Darroze at The Connaught

64. Kudu
65. Osip
66. Midsummer House
67. The Bridge Arms
68. The Grill at The Dorchester
69. Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill
70. Alchemilla
71. Gymkhana
72. Raby Hunt
73. The Quality Chop House
74. Rochelle Canteen
75. Café Deco
76. Decimo
77. Joro
78. Mana
79. Paul Ainsworth At No.6
80. Carter’s of Mosley
81. Cottage in the Woods
82. Hide
83. Orasay
84. Ondine
85. Ox
86. Trivet
87. The Old Stamp House
88. Opheem
89. Sargasso
90. The Little Chartroom
91. Tallow
92. Aizle
93. Chishuru
94. Le Cochon Aveugle
95. Muse
96. Northcote
97. The Palmerston
98. Benares
99. La Dame de Pic
100. Endo at the Rotunda

For further information, please contact Lauren on lauren@gemmabellandcompany.com.