Two-Michelin-Star Ynyshir climbs from one-star hygiene rating to top score

Ynyshir near Machynlleth, Wales, earned two Michelin stars in 2022 and is known for a 30-course, $675 per-person tasting menu featuring sashimi-grade fish and A5 Wagyu beef. In a 2025 routine check, the Food Standards Agency rated its hygiene as one out of five, pointing to dirty floors, insufficient hand-washing facilities, broken equipment and the failure to identify “significant hazards,” leading to a ban on raw lobster.

Chef-owner Gareth Ward told one outlet the inspectors did not grasp the restaurant’s specialized raw-food protocols. After implementing the agency’s recommendations, a February re-inspection granted Ynyshir a perfect five-star rating, which the FSA posted on its website in March 2026. Food critic Giles Coren defended the establishment, suggesting that Michelin-starred venues may need updated health-safety guidelines. The restaurant continues to attract high-end diners, even offering helicopter landing facilities.