Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms in Ceredigion, run by chef Gareth Ward, has had its five-star food hygiene rating restored after previously being given one star. Wales' only two-Michelin-star restaurant near Machynlleth in mid Wales was earlier ordered to stop serving raw lobster after inspectors found flies, broken equipment and a dirty knife.
The restaurant, which serves Japanese-inspired raw dishes as part of its nearly £500 per head 30-course tasting menu, had been criticised at the time for what it said inspectors did not understand about its specialised procedures. Ceredigion council later said an inspection in February 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 added.
Chef Gareth Ward had previously said he was not embarrassed when the restaurant was given a one-out-of-five score.
Ynyshir has been asked to comment.
Chef Gareth Ward (left), pictured at The Good Food Guide Awards in 2023
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".
"It is not little kitchens and pots boiling away, mimsy little things being placed on plates. He is cooking with fire... he stands there in his leather apron and it's roaring like fireworks," Coren said.
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 approached raw ingredients and techniques.
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".
But an Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the BBC revealed the one-star rating was based on factors including a dirty floor, inadequate hand-washing facilities in some areas, broken equipment and "an accumulation of dead flies".
Ceredigion council said inspections were 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 achieved a food hygiene rating of between three and five out of five.
