News
Hygiene issues uncovered at Michelin-starred restaurant
Ynyshir describes its approach as deliberately unconventional, stating it has significantly contributed to establishing Wales’ presence on the global culinary scene.
Inspectors have raised several concerns regarding hygiene practices at Ynyshir Restaurant, Wales' only two-Michelin-star establishment, including the presence of flies, broken equipment, and unsanitary conditions.
A detailed report, obtained through a BBC Wales Freedom of Information request, revealed that Ynyshir Restaurant near Machynlleth was instructed to halt the serving of raw lobster due to the presence of "significant hazards" that were not adequately identified.
The inspection also uncovered a dirty floor and knife at the restaurant, which offers a 30-course tasting menu at a cost of nearly £500 per person.
Ynyshir Restaurant stated that it has faced ongoing challenges with Ceredigion council's environmental health department, primarily related to documentation and a lack of understanding of the restaurant's specialized procedures.
Chef Gareth Ward had previously expressed that he was not embarrassed by the Food Standards Agency's rating of one out of five for the restaurant.
However, the council maintained that it stands by the professional judgment and findings of its staff in applying UK food hygiene standards.
The restaurant stated that it has made good-faith efforts to adapt its systems, expand its documentation, and engage external food safety specialists to develop customized frameworks tailored to its operations.
The inspection was conducted in October 2025 by a senior environmental health officer and a public protection officer.
The management of food safety at Ynyshir was deemed to require major improvement, as was the cleanliness and condition of the facilities, while "hygienic food handling" was rated as generally satisfactory.
The inspectors' report identified several issues, including a dirty floor, inadequate hand-washing facilities, and broken equipment that posed a potential contamination risk.
The presence of flies in an area known as "the smithy" was noted, posing a significant food safety risk due to the potential transfer of harmful bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella onto food, equipment, and surfaces.
A sticky strip used for pest control in the preparation room was found to have an accumulation of dead flies.
The report highlighted that the serving of raw lobster meat was not properly controlled, with microbiological hazards not fully identified.
Inspectors instructed the restaurant to cease serving raw lobster immediately, warning that further enforcement action may be taken if this instruction is not followed.
The report also noted the absence of documented procedures for storing live lobster, including control measures for water treatment, temperature, salinity, and waste filtration.
At the beginning of the inspection, the officers requested to see the restaurant's current menu, a request that was repeated several times before the menu was eventually provided as a digital image.
The inspectors noted that providing misinformation to an officer conducting official controls is considered an offense of obstruction.
The restaurant's menu typically consists of around 30 courses, served over several hours.
The inspectors identified multiple gaps in the restaurant's Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) documentation and monitoring.
The restaurant's Food Safety Management System and additional monitoring records, provided to inspectors by email, revealed issues with the recording of fish freezing temperatures and the aging of duck and pigeon.
The report also stated that the restaurant's cooking temperature records showed that it was not meeting the critical limit of >75°C for 30 seconds when preparing its sous vide cod dish.
The inspectors concluded that the restaurant must review its food safety management system to ensure that it fully covers all practices undertaken.
The restaurant maintains that its approach is intentionally non-conventional and has played a key role in placing Wales on the international culinary map.
It added that the inspection identified a small number of minor issues typical of a busy professional kitchen, which were rectified immediately.
The restaurant claimed that biological testing had confirmed that its techniques are safe, compliant, and appropriate, albeit at significant cost.
A spokesperson for the restaurant also claimed that there were factual inaccuracies in the findings, citing the example of a UV light that was installed and operational during the inspection.
The spokesperson also stated that a Japanese knife was referred to as being dirty when it had simply been sharpened and was in the process of being cleaned.
Ynyshir stated that all action points had been completed and that the team was awaiting the council's next visit.
The restaurant expressed its willingness to work constructively with the council but expected an informed, consistent, and fair assessment process.
It emphasized the need for a process that recognizes the realities of modern, non-conventional restaurants.
Food critic Giles Coren had previously expressed support for the restaurant, suggesting that Michelin-starred establishments should not be subject to standard health and safety rules.
Ceredigion council stated that inspections are carried out in line with national standards set by the FSA, noting that 90% of inspected premises in Ceredigion achieved a food hygiene rating of between three and five out of five between April and December 2025.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.
He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
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