A restaurant in Abergavenny has won its place among the best in the UK once again at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards.

The Walnut Tree, which is situated just outside the town in the stunning Welsh countryside, won Restaurant of the Year 2026 in a ceremony that holds a special place in Executive Chef, Shaun Hill’s, heart.

In 2008, his first year at the helm, The Walnut Tree won AA Restaurant of the Year for Wales and was praised for its “straightforward food and reasonable prices.” Almost two decades since that fateful evening, The Walnut Tree has gone on to gain a Michelin star and blend skilfully cooked exceptional ingredients with its signature and comforting approach.

“There are lots of good restaurants in Wales, we just do our best,” said Shaun.

“The award gives justification for all the hard work and attention to standards. We are a small team that work long hours to deliver consistency, so it gives a boost to morale for this to be acknowledged.”

“We have an excellent base of dedicated, long-standing customers who we continually see supporting us and we couldn't be more grateful to them. Loyalty is the backbone of survival through difficult times.”

The remains firmly rooted in Abergavenny and the surrounding area, owned by a family of hospitality businesses based in and around Abergavenny under the House of Caradog name.