Narberth restaurant named among UK's best by national awards
The National Restaurant Awards took place on Monday (June 9), celebrating "the brilliance and vibrancy of the UK restaurant scene, honouring the best chefs and operators across the country".
Awards handed out at the annual event included:
National Restaurant of the Year
Gastropub of the Year
Chef of the Year
Cocktail List of the Year
Wine List of the Year
Opening of the Year
Best Restaurant in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (four individual awards)
A list of the UK's top 100 restaurants was also revealed, featuring one Pembrokeshire restaurant - Annwn.
The best restaurants in the UK
The best restaurants in the UK, according to the National Restaurant Awards, are:
Why Annwn is among the UK's best restaurants
Annwn was ranked the 68th best restaurant in the country at the National Restaurant Awards.
The Narberth-based restaurant describes itself as "a Welsh food movement" that pays homage to its Welsh surroundings and landscapes.
It was recommended by the National Restaurant Awards for its "hyper-local food with a sustainable conscience".
The Awards website explains: "Chef-patron Matt Powell serves a single 10-course menu that changes during the seasons using ingredients that are not only local to the area, including many that are foraged close by - often within walking distance of the restaurant - but those that support sustainable producers and the country's wild ecosystems.
"A meal at Annwn starts with a selection of snacks, that might include bread 'cooked on the planc' and seasonal offerings such as cured and air-dried meats before getting to the heart of the matter with a procession of dishes that celebrate Pembrokeshire's bounty and which feature some unusual and not often used ingredients.
"Plating is meticulous, with dishes served on a wide variety of crockery and items from the natural world to accentuate the restaurant's natural approach.
"By contrast, the dining room is less formal than the food's presentation might suggest, with wooden tables and chairs, dark slate flooring, and vintage furniture creating a rustic but comfortable space in tune with its surroundings."
Previous dishes at Annwn have included:
Kilpaison oyster with purée, estuary plants, and an oyster cracker
A broth of velvet swimmer crab, St Brides prawns, sea buckthorn emulsification, sea radish and (nicer than it sounds) scurvy grass
Mallard accompanied by damson Paste, hazelnuts, and preserved hogweed seeds
Customers agree Annwn is "one of the best in the world"
It's not just the experts who love Annwn, but customers as well, with it boasting a perfect 5 rating on Tripadvisor from 46 reviews.
It has been described by visitors as a "culinary gem", "one of the best in the world" and a "beacon worth travelling a long way" for.
Have you visited Annwn before? (Image: Tripadvisor) One person, commenting about their experience at Annwn, said: "Top 3 restaurant in the world for a special experience.
"I am fortunate to have eaten at highly rated restaurants all over the world, including those with multiple Michelin stars.
"Annwn stands out for the authentic and deeply immersive experience into Welsh food, history, and community. It was worth every penny and much more."
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Another customer, posting on Tripadvisor, added: "True to name, Annwn is out of this world, in the best of ways.
"A fabulous experience of top Michelin quality food in a wonderfully intimate and personal setting. Cannot recommend highly enough.
"Surely Annwn will be awarded its star very soon.
"Matt is the most committed and passionate chef I have spoken with and, together with Naomi, they host a brilliant experience."
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