New Michelin Stars Announced

After a gruelling year for the hospitality industry, last night's awards were a chance to celebrate some of the best restaurants in the UK. 

“At a time when restaurants and pubs are closed, why then would we be launching a guide and awarding Stars?" Michelin said, in a statement released last week.

"The answer is simple: we want to promote the industry as much as we possibly can. We want to celebrate the many amazing restaurants in Great Britain & Ireland and all the hugely talented chefs and restaurateurs. We want to shine a light on our industry, to keep people talking about it in the media and remind everyone of what we have, and to bring news of our great restaurants to a global audience.” 

New Stars

This year it awarded two new three-star restaurants, three new two-star restaurants and seventeen new one-star restaurants to the following:

Three Star Restaurants: The Connaught (London) and Core (London).

Two Star Restaurants: A Wong (London), Restaurant Story (London) and Da Terra (London).

One-Star Restaurants: Muse (London), Osip (Somerset), Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall (Yorkshire), Dede (Baltimore, Co. Cork, Ireland), The Latymer (Surrey), Hide and Fox (Kent), Behind (London), Roots (York), Cail Bruich (Glasgow), Hjem (Northumberland), Cornerstone (London), Davies and Brook (London), Outlaw's New Road (Cornwall), Benares (London), Casa Fofo (London), Pea Porridge (Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk) and Sola (London).

Particular congratulations goes out to Clare Smyth and Hélène Darroze, the trailblazing female chefs who have been awarded three stars, an accolade that most can only dream of! Clare's London-based restaurant, Core, champions the finest British produce and places an emphasis on natural, sustainable food and British artisanal produce. We'd love to get a table there!

Out of all the new Michelin-starred restaurants, Pea Porridge is closest to home. They also rely on local, seasonal produce and nose-to-tail dishes prominently on our menu. And we'd also like to extend our congratulations to Great British Food favourite Nathan Outlaw, who received a star for his latest venture, Outlaw's New Road.

Being Green

For the very first time, Michelin also awarded green stars for sustainable gastronomy to 23 restaurants in Great Britain. The award recognises restaurants with a focus on environmental practices and only those with a Plate, Bib or Star distinction are eligible. Many of this years winners work directly with growers, farmers and fishermen, as well as foraging and growing their own vegetables.

This year's recipients:

Angela's (Margate), Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons (Oxfordshire), Black Swan (York), Coombeshead Farm (Launceston), Daylesford Organic Farm (Moreton-in-Marsh), Hypha (Chester), L'Enclume (Cumbria), New Yard (Helston), Oxo Tower Brasserie, (London), Petersham Nurseries Café (London), Restaurant Sat Bains (Nottingham), River Cottage Kitchen (Axminster), Hackney (London),The Dining Room (Malmesbury),The Ethicurean (Bristol), The Small Holding (Kent), Tredwells (London), Where the Light Gets In (Stockport) Inver (Strachur), Henry Robertson (Llandderfel), Inis Meáin Restaurant and Suites (Aran Islands), Kai (Galway) and Loam (Galway).

Among this list are some restaurants and chefs particularly close to our hearts. These include Raymond Blanc, a judge for this year's Great British Food Awards, and our very own columnist Will Devlin, of The Small Holding.

“What an incredible feeling! This Green Star encompasses everything about The Small Holding and our drive for sustainability. This award is for everyone on the team, in the kitchen, on the floor and on the farm who all work so hard and really deserve this, I’m so proud," Will said.