Michelin presented the 2023 MICHELIN Guide Great Britain and Ireland, honouring the nation’s top restaurants, chefs, and cuisines. The MICHELIN Guide Ceremony was held on March 27 2023, at the iconic Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire to announce all new Michelin stars, green stars, and some special new awards. Twenty restaurants were newly awarded one star, three were awarded two stars, and four received a green star this year.
The MICHELIN Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2023 made recommendations for 1,143 restaurants, of which 206 are Michelin-Starred, 29 have been awarded a Michelin Green Star, and 116 are highlighted with a Bib Gourmand.
One Michelin Star Awardees
As well as the below new one stars, nearly all of the current one Michelin star restaurants retained their stars including Woven by Adam Smith, Adam Handling and many more.
Gidleigh Park is now back on the radar for food lovers, with its modern dishes and contrasting Edwardian atmosphere in Devon.
Àclèaf in Plymouth offers classical cooking within the impressive Boringdon Hall hotel, winning one Michelin star.
In Cheltenham, Lumière has impressed the inspectors who have witnessed their techniques mature over 14 years and are so pleased to be able to now give it a Michelin Star.
Restaurant Twenty-Two, in Cambridge, has shown outstanding teamwork by getting better and better and have now been rewarded with a Michelin Star.
The Tudor Pass in Egham, Surrey, achieves a Michelin Star for its elegant cuisine that makes good use of produce from the hotel’s garden.
Grace & Savour in the West Midlands is another restaurant within a hotel. Its Nordic influences are there to see in the surprise menu.
Ben Wilkinson at The Pass shows that his move from the Lake District to Horsham has been wholly successful by earning a Michelin star.
Store in Norfolk is one of the smallest restaurants to win a Michelin star this year, with just five tables; they pack in flavour with their multi-course set menu.
Cumbria – The Samling earns a star, where the excellent food matches the stunning views. Occupying a 17C inn, heft has been lovingly restored by Kevin and Nicola Tickle, and provides the ideal backdrop for imaginative cooking. Pentonbridge Inn is an 18C inn where the hard work of all involved sees it gain a Michelin star.
In Lancashire, chef Tim Allen achieves a Michelin star for his first solo restaurant – appropriately named sō–lō.
This year, Solstice by Kenny Atkinson in Newcastle receives a star for the experienced chef’s work.
London – ‘Delicious’ is the only word to describe the Italian cooking at London’s Luca. Takuya Watanabe has swapped Paris for London – his counter restaurant, Taku, is another sign of the maturing of the capital’s Japanese restaurant scene. A cool and contemporary environment is offered at Cycene in Shoreditch, where the chefs serve their impressive creations. St. Barts occupies a very handsome space in London for its equally elegant star-worthy cuisine.
Timberyard, in Edinburgh, has found the ideal chef for its kitchen, where the food is restrained yet perfectly balanced and satisfying.
At Heron, in Leith, the passion and enthusiasm of the two chef-owners are there to see on the plate.
Terre, in Cork, is a restaurant at the impressive Castlemartyr Resort, where the chef’s international travels inform his refined and striking dishes.
Two Michelin Star Awardees
The three new two Michelin star restaurants see one return, one addition and one promotion.
The reopening of The Ledbury came as a relief to many, as Brett Graham’s restaurant has been one of the capital’s most loved for many years.
Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal goes straight into the Guide with two Michelin stars, thanks to the exceptionally accomplished cooking of this most talented of chefs.
Ahmet Dede and his team at Dede have become a true destination restaurant with outstanding Turkish cuisine.
Three Michelin Star restaurants
There were no new 3 star restaurants this year but all the existing three star restaurants all retained their stars – a great achievement for the eight UK restaurants including Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester where Jean-Philippe Blondet is Executive Chef.
Green Michelin Star Awardees
Introduced in January 2021, green stars highlight restaurants’ commitment to sustainable practices. A restaurant that goes out of its way to recycle, compost, farm, and utilise natural cleaning products will be recommended for the award. Four new restaurants earned a green star this year, bringing the total number to 29. The winners are Apricity in London; Crocadon in St Mellion; CULTURE in Falmouth; and Osip in Bruton. Each establishment shares a common ambition to put eco-responsibility at the heart of its operation.
Cocktail Award
For the first time in Great Britain and Ireland, Michelin honours a remarkable cocktail list with its 2023 Michelin Exceptional Cocktail Award, sponsored by The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. We have always championed mixology at Luxuriate Life and the UK bar scene is really flourishing. This new award was presented by CEO and Founder Jay Bradley and went to restaurant Park Chinois in London, and its talented bar team led by Makis Kazakis. A glamorous night out at Park Chinois in Mayfair is not complete without a cocktail or two – and there are two cocktail bars to choose from here, both equally opulent and decorated in a style that echoes 1930s Shanghai.
Other Special Awards
The special awards are a selection of individuals and teams who have impressed Michelin inspectors throughout the year.
The Michelin Chef Mentor Award, sponsored by Blancpain, goes to Michael Deane. Michael Deane is never one to stand still, as his group of varied restaurants would testify. Many chefs who have passed through his kitchen owe him a debt for the skills, values and professionalism he instilled in them. His name is synonymous with quality restaurants, and he is a true figurehead in the industry.
The Michelin Young Chef Award goes to Sarah Hayward, from One Michelin Star The Coach in Marlow. From her early days on the Isle of Wight, then rising through the ranks under Tom Kerridge, it has been impossible to ignore Sarah’s meteoric rise. She’s tenacious, determined, modest and a great role model for any chef who dreams of progressing in the industry – she even found time to train for and run the London marathon last year! We first noticed her at the Bull & Bear in Manchester and were delighted when we heard she had been made Head Chef of the Coach in Marlow, which has maintained its Star in the 2023 guide.
The Michelin Welcome and Service Award is given to Declan Maxwell and his team from Spitalfields restaurant in Dublin. Ireland is known for its warm hospitality, and this year’s award goes to someone who upholds and enhances that reputation. Whether a local is in for a pint or a visitor coming for a 3-course dinner, Declan makes everyone feel genuinely welcome. His enthusiasm for this small but busy pub is unwavering and contagious.
The Michelin Sommelier Award recipient is Tara Ozols, from So|La restaurant in London. It isn’t just Tara’s expert knowledge of her intriguing all-American wine list but also her delightful personality and the way she engages with her customers and judges their requirements so well that makes her worthy of this award.
To discover more, visit: news.michelin.co.uk
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All imagery courtesy of Michelin Guide 2023.