The best hotels, restaurants and staff in Wales and across the UK have been unveiled. The prestigious AA Hospitality Awards recognise the best in the hospitality industry with an awards ceremony held in London last night.
There were 15 categories with a special section for the top locations in Wales. There were awards given out for the best hotel, best restaurant and the top restaurant with rooms.
In addition to this there was a prize for the place with the best wine.
The winners
Restaurant of the Year in Wales 2023 is The Jackdaw in Conwy. It was praised for its "attentive service" and "excellent ingredients."
Run by Nick Rudge, who trained under Heston Blumenthal, The Jackdaw is a 1930s building that was formerly used as a cinema and follows a Scandinavian theme.
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The AA inspector said: "Service is attentive and seasonally evolving tasting menus focus on excellent ingredients. Wild garlic, confit potato and barbecued leek is served simply but effectively with soda style 'bread of heaven'. John Dory comes poached in brown butter with elderflower caper sauce, girolles and pickled lemon. Finish with 'Blaenau Slate' - named for the local slate trade, a clever, zingy dessert of early gooseberries, sheep's yoghurt, sorrel and pistachio with meringue shards representing the slate."
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Two Michelin starred, Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms near Machynlleth, was named restaurant with rooms of the year in Wales. Owner and chef Gareth Ward has turned Ynyshir into a true destination restaurant for foodies since taking over in 2013.
![Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms, Eglwys Fach, Machynlleth](https://i2-prod.walesonline.co.uk/incoming/article27610695.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_RJS_ECH_111017_ynyshir_126JPG.jpg)
The AA inspector said: "Set in beautifully landscaped grounds and surrounded by the RSPB Ynys-hir Nature Reserve, Ynyshir was once owned by Queen Victoria and is surrounded by mountain scenery. Here the bucolic ideal ends, with an experience which blends a highly individual culinary voice and no little attitude... The food offers the finest international ingredients carefully handled by Gareth Ward resulting in a relentless tasting journey that offers hit after hit. The accommodation is luxurious and continues the natural theme, either in the main house or outside."
The Penally Abbey Hotel in Tenby has been named hotel of the year in Wales. It sits on a monastic site and the 12th-century ruins of the original chapel can still be seen in the grounds today.
The AA inspector said: "The hotel has been fully restored by the owners and a warm welcome is assured from the personable team. The distinct Gothic windows frame the sea views from many of the spacious bedrooms."
Pale Hall Hotel & Restaurant near Bala took the Wales Wine Award.
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