The 2012 Michelin guide to Great Britain and Ireland was announced last week, resulting in the usual flurry of commentary, nods of agreement and shouts of disdain.
Whatever your thoughts on the Michelin guide, it remains one of the best and most accurate guides to dining, despite its heavy focus on French haute cuisine, and it’s the one that restaurateurs and chefs most revere.
There are 151 Michelin starred restaurants in the UK today, the highest number ever, which is a great recognition for the quality of restaurants in the country.
There are no changes at the 3 star level, meaning that Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Gordon Ramsay’s Royal Hospital Road, The Fat Duck and The Waterside Inn remain as the only 4 such establishments in the UK.
There are two additions at the 2 star level, namely Restaurant Sat Bains in Nottingham and Great British Menu winner Tom Kerridge’s Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, which has become the first two Michelin-starred pub in the country.
New 1 star restaurants in London include Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental; Jason Atherton’s Pollen Street Social; Hakkasan Mayfair; and North Road Restaurant in Clerkenwell.
London restaurant Pied à Terre has been demoted to 1 star following the departure of former head chef Shane Osborn earlier this year, while Tom Aikens has lost his star following the restaurant’s closure for a refurbishment.
Notable additions in the Bib Gourmand category (offering good food at moderate prices) include da Polpo, Opera Tavern, Trishna’s and Jose.
Read our guide to our favourite Michelin starred restaurants in London.
[…] of recent years, received immediate acclaim by critics, collecting its first Michelin Star in the 2012 UK Michelin Guide later in the year. The signature ‘Meat Fruit’ is worth a visit […]
[…] One of the highlights of the visit was dinner at ‘Restaurant Coworth Park’, the hotel’s main restaurant. The dining room exudes sophistication with a beautiful and dramatic light feature dominating the room. The restaurant was originally under the guidance of John Campbell, the celebrated chef who held 2 Michelin stars at the Vineyard at Stockcross. He has since departed, but the current chef is incredibly talented as we were served a refined, interesting and meticulously prepared 8 course tasting menu, which richly deserved its first Michelin star in the 2012 UK Michelin Guide. […]
[…] with a prestigious named chef on the door but this is certainly prestigious cooking. Bring on the Michelin stars and go now before they put the prices […]
[…] with a prestigious named chef on the door but this is certainly prestigious cooking. Bring on the Michelin stars and go now before they put the prices […]
[…] Ducasse at The Dorchester, which holds 3 Michelin Stars, offers a selection of private dining options, including the intimate Salon Prive and the Salon […]
[…] from winning his first Michelin Star this year, chef Mark Poynton from Alimentum in Cambridge will be cooking in the Landmark […]
[…] Ametsa will be a collaboration between The Halkin and a team that includes chefs Elena Arzak and Juan Mari Arzak, whose Arzak restaurant in San Sebastian, Spain, has 3 Michelin stars. […]
[…] of recent years, received immediate acclaim by critics, collecting its first Michelin Star in the 2012 UK Michelin Guide later in the […]
[…] Dinner by Heston is Heston Blumenthal’s first foray into the London restaurant scene at the Mandarin Oriental. ‘Dinner’, one of the most anticipated restaurant openings of recent years, received immediate acclaim by critics, collecting its first Michelin Star in the 2012 UK Michelin Guide. […]