A restaurant in mid-Wales, which opened just a few weeks ago, has been tipped as one of the names in the running to become Opening of the Year at the prestigious Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards 2023.
Gwen Restaurant and Wine Bar in Machynlleth is a sister establishment of two-Michelin star and the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards' best restaurant in UK 2022, Ynyshir which opened at the start of May. The intimate restaurant, dining experience and wine bar is run by renowned chef Gareth Ward and headed up by his own Ynyshir protegee Corrin Harrison - who is at the helm of Gwen's kitchen as head chef. Read more on it here.
The winner of last year's category was BiBi in Mayfair, London, which was cited as 'shaking up' the "capital's subcontinental restaurant scene". The 2023 champion of Opening of the Year will be announced in a ceremony set to take place at The Hurlingham Club, London, on June 12. Other categories which will be revealed include Chef of the Year, Chef to Watch, Restaurateur of the Year, Sustainability Award and many more.
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With restaurants like Manchester's Climat, Brighton and Hove's Furna and London's Mriya also shortlisted for this gong, Big Hospitality - which revealed the shortlist - wrote of Gwen: "Former Ynyshir head chef Corrin Harrison runs the kitchen at this bijou wine bar and restaurant located in Machynlleth. To the front is a dark-themed modern wine bar serving a tight bar snack menu and to the rear is an intimate eight-seat restaurant where Harrison cooks an inventive 10-course tasting menu from a tiny kitchen.
"Gwen uses some of the same ingredients as the nearby two-star Ynyshir restaurant so diners can expect something special."
Posting an inspirational message to Corrin on the opening day of Gwen Restaurant and Wine Bar at the start of May, Gareth Ward - his mentor - took to Instagram to say: "So @cwharrison1 today is your day son, today is the start of your next journey. This is your time, I have watched you grow as a chef and a man and am so proud of what you have become.
"Today is the start, time to make your own mistakes learn grow and create your own style that makes you happy doing what you do. I will always be here for you my lad, smash it in and remember to have fun doing it. I love you son.
Watch this space guys coz @gwenrestaurant @cwharrison1 are going to bring the [fire emojis]."
Gwen is found at 21 Heol Maengwyn, Machynlleth SY20 8EB and is open Wednesday to Saturday.
For the full list of restaurants in the running for the title, see here.
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