Michelin-Starred Restaurant Group Expands with Development Bank Backing

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Development Bank of Wales , 29th June 2023

A world-renowned restaurant based in mid-Wales has opened a new site in the heart of Machynlleth, thanks to the support of the Development Bank of Wales.

Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms, Eglwys Fach, is the only restaurant in Wales to ever have held two Michelin stars, and was named the UK’s best restaurant at The Estrella Damn National Restaurant Awards 2022.

Multi-award winning chef Gareth Ward has led the kitchen at Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms since 2013, earning Five AA rosettes and scores of accolades from across the world of fine dining.

Now, thanks to a £100,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales, the Ynyshir Restaurant Group has opened Gwen, an intimate eight-seat restaurant offering a communal dining experience, led by chef Corrin Harrison.

The loan, provided from the Wales Flexible Investment Fund, allowed Ynyshir to refit the former bistro for a new restaurant and wine bar and open in time for the tourist season.

Jamie Henstone, Sous Chef; Corrin Harrison, Head Chef; Jake Garstang, Bar Manager; Amelia Eiriksson, Creative Director

Named after Gareth Ward’s mother, Gwen has a cosy wine bar offering carefully-sourced wines and craft beers from around the world. The menu will make use of the same world-leading ingredients used at Ynyshir, including A5 Wagyu beef, British lamb and fish.

Amelia Eiriksson, creative director for the Ynyshir Restaurant Group, said:

“We’ve been looking at potential expansion for ages, but we wanted to make sure that we got the right venue which could convey the atmosphere we wanted. Gwen will be more of a casual and relaxed dining experience than at Ynyshir, and the new venue fits that smaller, more communal dining vision we had in mind.

“We’re really pleased we were able to find this great venue right in the heart of Machynlleth, just up the road from Ynyshir. We love this area and want to make it a real food destination. The support from the Development Bank of Wales has meant we’ve been able to refit Gwen the way we wanted in time for the spring, and we’re really glad to have worked with them.”

Will Jones, Investment Executive at the Development Bank of Wales, said:

“Ynyshir obviously have a fantastic reputation and their award-winning work at Ynyshir has earned them acclaim worldwide, so we were delighted to help them open Gwen in Machynlleth town centre, allowing them to bring their fantastic dining experiencer to a wider audience.

“Ynyshir Hall has been key in bringing people to this part of Wales from around the world, and the addition of Gwen will strengthen the offering in Machynlleth thanks to the work of a well-established business.”

The Wales Flexible Investment Fund is open to deals between £25,000 and £10 million, with loans, mezzanine finance and equity investments available, with flexibility for terms of up to 15 years.

For more information, visit www.developmentbank.wales

Mae bwyty byd-enwog sydd wedi’i leoli yng nghanolbarth Cymru wedi agor safle newydd yng nghanol Machynlleth, diolch i gefnogaeth Banc Datblygu Cymru.

Bwyty ac Ystafelloedd Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms, Eglwys Fach, yw’r unig fwyty yng Nghymru sydd erioed wedi dal dwy seren Michelin, a chafodd ei enwi’n fwyty gorau’r DU yng Ngwobrau Bwyty Cenedlaethol Estrella Damn 2022.

Mae’r cogydd sydd wedi ennill sawl gwobr, Gareth Ward, wedi arwain y gegin ym Mwyty ac Ystafelloedd Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms ers 2013, gan ennill Pum rhoséd AA ac ugeiniau o ganmoliaeth o bob rhan o’r byd bwyta coeth.

Nawr, diolch i fenthyciad o £100,000 gan Fanc Datblygu Cymru, mae Grŵp Bwyty Ynyshir wedi agor Gwen, bwyty agos-atoch wyth sedd sy’n cynnig profiad bwyta cymunedol, dan arweiniad y cogydd Corrin Harrison.

Roedd y benthyciad, a ddarparwyd gan Gronfa Buddsoddi Hyblyg Cymru, wedi galluogi Ynyshir i ailwampio'r bistro gynt fel bwyty a bar gwin newydd ac fe fydd ar agor mewn pryd ar gyfer y tymor twristiaeth.

Wedi’i henwi ar ôl mam Gareth Ward, mae gan Gwen far gwin clyd sy’n cynnig gwinoedd o ffynonellau gofalus a chwrw crefft o bedwar ban byd. Bydd y fwydlen yn defnyddio'r un cynhwysion sy'n arwain y byd a ddefnyddir yn Ynyshir, gan gynnwys cig eidion A5 Wagyu, cig oen a physgod Prydeinig.

Dywedodd Amelia Eiriksson, cyfarwyddwr creadigol Grŵp Bwyty Ynyshir:

“Rydym wedi bod yn edrych ar ehangu posib ers oesoedd, ond roeddem eisiau gwneud yn siŵr ein bod yn cael y lleoliad cywir a allai gyfleu'r awyrgylch yr oeddem ei eisiau. Bydd Gwen yn fwy o brofiad bwyta hamddenol ac ymlaciol nag yn Ynyshir, ac mae'r lleoliad newydd yn cyd-fynd â'r weledigaeth fwyta lai, fwy cymunedol a oedd gennym mewn golwg.

“Rydym yn falch iawn ein bod wedi gallu dod o hyd i'r lleoliad gwych hwn yng nghanol Machynlleth, ychydig i fyny'r ffordd o Ynyshir. Rydyn ni'n caru'r ardal hon ac eisiau ei gwneud yn gyrchfan bwyd go iawn. Mae’r gefnogaeth gan Fanc Datblygu Cymru wedi golygu ein bod ni wedi gallu ailwampio Gwen y ffordd roedden ni eisiau mewn pryd ar gyfer y gwanwyn, ac rydyn ni’n falch iawn o fod wedi gweithio gyda nhw.”

Dywedodd Will Jones, Swyddog Buddsoddi gyda Banc Datblygu Cymru:

“Yn amlwg mae gan Ynyshir enw gwych ac mae eu gwaith arobryn yn Ynyshir wedi ennill clod iddynt ledled y byd, felly roeddem yn falch iawn o’u helpu i agor Gwen yng nghanol tref Machynlleth, gan ganiatáu iddynt ddod â'u profiad bwyta gwych i gynulleidfa ehangach.

“Mae Neuadd Ynyshir wedi bod yn allweddol wrth ddod â phobl i’r rhan hon o Gymru o bob rhan o’r byd, a bydd ychwanegu Gwen yn cryfhau’r hyn sydd ar gael ym Machynlleth diolch i waith y busnes hwn sydd wedi hen ennill ei blwyf.”

Mae Cronfa Buddsoddi Hyblyg Cymru yn agored i fargeinion rhwng £25,000 a £10 miliwn, gyda benthyciadau, cyllid mesanîn a buddsoddiadau ecwiti ar gael, gyda hyblygrwydd am hyd at 15 mlynedd.