Legendary Welsh Michelin-starred restaurant Ynyshir has opened a new sister eatery

On the outskirts of a small, under-the-radar town in Wales sits one of the best restaurants in Britain. Opened by Gareth Ward in 2013 just outside Machynlleth, the two-Michelin star Ynyshir is a notoriously hardcore place to eat, with a 30-course Japanese inspired menu, a specially curated soundtrack and refusal to adapt to any dietary requirements. It’s also a rather expensive place to eat. But if you want the Ynyshir experience without needing to sell a lung, it does have a more affordable sister restaurant you can stop by instead. 

Gwen isn’t entirely new. It first launched in 2023 and Corrin Harrison was brought on as head chef, but he announced his departure back in April. Now, Gwen has reopened and entered a new era under the leadership of Peter Sanchez-Iglesias (of Bristol’s Casamia and London’s Decimo). 

Just three metres wide, Gwen is an intimate spot that can fit just eight diners at a time. Sanchez-Iglesias is joined by just one other chef – Finn Langley, a student at the local catering college Coleg Ceredigion. Like Ynyshir, eating here is not just a meal but a multi-sensory experience and there’s a a strict ‘no substitutions or amendments rule’. Here, guests are served a 20-course tasting menu and move through the two open kitchens as the evening progresses. The whole experiences lasts roughly three and a half hours. 

Dishes will change on a daily basis, in line with Gwen’s hyper-seasonal, fire-led approach. But to give you an idea of the sort of things to expect, previous plates have included tomato stracciatella, hokkaido scallop mole blanco, carabineros birria with hibiscus and duck rib al pastor masa. 

The restaurants redesigned interiors are the work of Ynyshir co-founder Amelia Eiriksson. She’s gone for a dark and atmospheric design with pieces from local artisans, such as the hand-forged ironmongery from Ynyshir’s in-house smithy Lee Jones. 

While a meal at Gwen is by no means cheap, it is far more affordable than at Ynyshir. While an evening at Ynyshir will cost you upwards of £400, the tasting menu at Gwen starts at £180. You can book here.

ICYMI: The best pub in Britain has been crowned at the 2026 Pub and Bar Awards. 

Plus: 8 British restaurants were added to the Michelin Guide in May 2026. 

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