GWENT restaurant the Walnut Tree has been named one of the top three places to eat in the whole of the UK.

The Abergavenny eatery was placed third in the National Restaurant Awards on Tuesday night, being only just beaten out of the top two by Heston Blumethal’s the Fat Duck and London restaurant Hibiscus, and was also named the best restaurant in Wales.

Head chef Shaun Hill said the business was surprised to be placed so highly in the competition, which chooses the top 100 restaurants in the UK, but that they had worked very hard to make the Walnut Tree a success.

Opened in 1963, the Walnut Tree has had a varied history.

It is one of the few restaurants in Wales to have had Michelin starred chef with Stephen Terry, but also appeared on Gordon Ramsey’s kitchen nightmares eight years ago.

But current owner William Griffiths and Mr Hill took over in 2001 and restored it to its former glory.

The Hardwick in Abergavenny was also named in the top 100 at number 51.