Abergavenny restaurant The Walnut Tree is named Best in Wales

The Walnut Tree at Llandewi Skirrid was also ranked 14th in the top 100 restaurants in the UK.

The Michelin-starred restaurant run by chef Shaun Hill and William Griffiths has been going since the early '60s and was one of the first restaurants in the UK to serve unadulterated Italian cuisine.

Speaking after the awards, Mr Hill said: “We are all very happy to have retained this award.”

“Wales is supporting more and more ambitious restaurants so each year the competition is tougher.'

The Hardwick Restaurant in Abergavenny, run by chef Stephen Terry and his wife Joanna, also featured in the top 100 ranking at 54. Both restaurants are among five Welsh restaurants to feature in the top 100 list.

Mr Terry has worked under Marco Pierre White at Harveys and Le Gavroche, under Michel Roux Jnr.

The awards, organized by Restaurant magazine in associated with Estrella Damm, took place at the Hurlingham Club in London on Monday night.

Now in their eighth year, the National Restaurant Awards are recognised as the definitive awards for the UK’s diverse and burgeoning restaurant industry, and mark the largest gathering of top chefs and restaurateurs in Britain.

Modern Tapas Restaurant Barrafina Adelaide Street in London won named Restaurant of the Year- the first no reservations restaurant to top the list.

The Walnut Tree was placed above restaurants Fera at Claridge’s in London, Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Port Issac in Cornwall and Belmond Le Manior Aux Quat Saisons, Oxfordshire. The Hardwick beat off competition from the infamous London’s Chiltern Firehouse, The Waterside Inn at Bray.

The awards are voted for by 150 experts from across the Uk, including chefs, restauranteurs, food writers and critics. Restaurants are not judged only by their food but the whole experience, therefore the staff, atmosphere, music, design and price are all considered.