Wales' only two-Michelin-star restaurant, Ynyshir Restaurant near Machynlleth, has regained its top hygiene score after receiving a one-star rating in a previous inspection due to "significant hazards" including flies, broken equipment, and dirty utensils. The restaurant was ordered to stop serving raw lobster during the initial inspection, but following improvements, Ceredigion council awarded it a perfect five out of five score. 90% of inspected premises in Ceredigion achieved a rating between three and five out of five from April to December 2025, according to the Food Standards Agency. The restaurant's chef Gareth Ward had previously claimed that inspectors did not understand his "specialised procedures" for handling raw ingredients.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Wales' only two-Michelin-star restaurant, Ynyshir Restaurant, near Machynlleth, had its top hygiene rating restored after being given a one-star score by Ceredigion council due to flies, broken equipment, and a dirty knife. The restaurant, known for its £500-a-head 30-course tasting menu, had been ordered to stop serving raw lobster after inspectors found significant hazards were not properly identified. However, the restaurant claims it addressed all issues raised by inspectors, leading to the council reinstating its top hygiene rating of five. This outcome is seen as a success for the food hygiene inspection process and the ability of regulatory officers to work with businesses to improve standards.
Written for “Restaurant's Hygiene Scores Rebound” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article presents Chef Gareth Ward's statements in a neutral to sympathetic light, highlighting his confidence in the restaurant's high standards and his criticism of Ceredigion council's procedures. However, the tone remains objective overall, providing a balanced account of the events and quotes from both sides.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.80 for article 539 · logged 2026-08-06
- Published
Wales' only two-Michelin-star restaurant that received a one-star food hygiene rating after inspectors found flies, broken equipment and a dirty knife has had its top score restored.
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score → receive → flies
Ynyshir Restaurant near Machynlleth in mid Wales was ordered to stop serving raw lobster after Ceredigion council had found "significant hazards" were not properly identified.
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hazards → order → lobster
Ynyshir serves Japanese-inspired raw dishes as part of its nearly £500 a head 30-course tasting menu, and had accused inspectors of not understanding its specialised procedures.
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Ynyshir → serve → procedures
The council has now awarded it a hygiene rating of five after it found the "business had addressed all matters identified during the original inspection".
"This outcome demonstrates the effectiveness of the food hygiene inspection process and the positive results that can be achieved through constructive engagement between regulatory officers and food businesses to improve standards," the council said.
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council → award → standards
Chef Gareth Ward previously said he had not been embarrassed when the restaurant had been given a 1-out-of-5 score.
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restaurant → say → score
Ynyshir has been asked to comment.
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Ynyshir → ask → ?
Food critic Giles Coren previously came out in support of the restaurant, claiming Michelin-starred restaurants should not have to abide by normal health and safety rules and the guidelines should "probably be modernised".
"
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guidelines → come → rules
It is not little kitchens and pots boiling away, mimsy little things being placed on plates.
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things → boil → plates
He is cooking with fire...
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He → cook → fire
he stands there in his leather apron and it's roaring like fireworks," Coren said.
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Coren → stand → fireworks
Ward, who has recently announced he will be bringing fine dining to Aberystwyth Town Football Club, previously said his restaurant was working "at the highest standard in the world" and doing "something different" with how it had approached raw ingredients and techniques.
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it → announce → ingredients
He said he had faced "persistent challenges" with Ceredigion council's environmental health department, "primarily relating to documentation and a lack of understanding of our specialised procedures".
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he → say → procedures
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by BBC News revealed the one-star rating had been based on factors including a dirty floor, inadequate hand-washing facilities in some areas, broken equipment and "an accumulation of dead flies".
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rating → reveal → flies
Ceredigion council said inspections had been carried out in line with national standards set by the Food Standards Agency and, between April and December 2025, 90% of inspected premises in Ceredigion had achieved a food hygiene rating of between three and five out of five.
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% → say → five
