15-07-2025
Caravan park cafe and tiny bistro on Good Good Guide list of 100 Best Local Restaurants
A cafe on an Anglesey holiday park and possibly the smallest restaurant in Gwynedd have both been named on a UK top 100 list from the Good Food Guide.
The guide has released its 100 Best Local Restaurants for 2025 in partnership with Square.
Now in its 15th year, the Best Local Restaurant awards spotlight brilliant, independently run venues that define affordable and accessible dining across Britain. From Anglesey to Argyll, Newcastle to the Cornish coast, nearly 60,000 public nominations poured in from diners eager to champion their favourite spots.
The Guide's anonymous inspectors criss-crossed the UK to put these nominations to the test, revealing how Britain really eats in 2025. In a recent survey*, 61% of diners said that eating out has become too expensive for them in 2025.
The Good Food Guide's editor, Chloë Hamilton, said: "Great value for money is a big focus of this year's list. We're celebrating wine bars serving sensational small plates, neighbourhood bistros breathing new life into faded seaside towns, and cherished family-run gems where you can enjoy a great meal for under £20."
Samantha Hussain-Letch, executive director at business technology platform Square, said: "At Square, supporting the food and beverage industry is our top global priority, so we're proud to partner with The Good Food Guide to celebrate this exceptional list of restaurants. The restaurants recognised by The Good Food Guide exemplify creativity and excellence, and we're excited to see how they continue to shape the future of the industry."
Leading the list, as overall winner, is Lucky Lychee in Winchester, a standout Malaysian restaurant run by husband-and-wife duo James Harris and Nicole Yeoh, while Paternoster Farm in Pembrokeshire takes the prize for Best Local Restaurant in Wales.
When it comes to North Wales it has picked two gems - and places that could be missed for different reasons. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
One is on an Anglesey caravan park in a comeback success for two brothers. The Marram Grass was the toast of the foodie world over a decade ago. Run by Liam and Ellis Barrie, who later appeared on Great British Menu, the place was known far and wide and people would travel miles to visit the site near Newborough.
They later opened Lerpwl in Liverpool and Marram was closed during the pandemic. This was followed by the closure of Lerpwl as well in 2023.
The brothers made a return to Anglesey last year - opening Y Marram back at Newborough Warren Caravan Park. This accolade shows they've once again caught the eye of the food world, gaining recognition from the Good Food Guide.
The second is a small restaurant that has been delighting diners for over a decade. It is the Dining Room in Abersoch run by talented chef Si Toft.
It has rave reviews from its loyal customers so it is no surprise that it has been noticed by the Good Food Guide. The most recent TripAdvisor review said it has the "best food in Wales" and they're not alone in that opinion.
Another recent diner added: "The food was exceptional, the service delightful and the wine delicious. Si and his team bent over backwards to make it a truly special evening and we are super grateful. This restaurant is 100% the best on the Llyn and is one of our favourites anywhere."
With around 20 covers a night the only issue is getting booked in!
Full Welsh List:
Paternoster Farm, Hundleton (Wales winner)
Y Marram, Newborough
The Warren, Carmarthen
Mesen, Cardiff
The Shed, Swansea
The Black Bear Inn, Bettws Newydd
The Dining Room, Abersoch
Casanova, Cardiff
Y Polyn, Nantgaredig
