The Michelin Guide has announced 15 new one star restaurants and two new two star restaurants in its 2016 Great Britain and Ireland edition.
The announcement of two new two-stars is cause for celebration, not least because the restaurants in question, Umu and The Araki, both serve Japanese cuisine rather than the French dishes Michelin is normally known for rewarding. Both The Araki and Umu are located in the upmarket London district of Mayfair.
Rebecca Burr, editor of the Michelin Guide, said: “It is a great compliment to London that when Sushi Master Mitsuhiro Araki closed his Three Star counter restaurant in Tokyo it was because he wanted to come to the UK to challenge himself in a different culture.
“Umu is a very different style of Japanese restaurant – chef Yoshinori Ishii has steadily been improving the food and he has taken it to a whole new level.”
Gordon Ramsey’s flagship Chelsea restaurant (main image above), Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester in Mayfair and The Waterside Inn in Berkshire all maintained their three Michelin stars for another year. The Waterside Inn was founded by legendary brothers Michel and Albert Roux and is currently run by Michel’s son, Alain. In 2010, it became the first restaurant outside of France to retain all three stars for 25 years.
The Fat Duck, which holds three stars and is also based in Berkshire, was absent from this year’s list following a temporary move to Australia. The restaurant is run by celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal.
The new one star restaurants in London include Lyle’s, Bonhams, Portland and the Dining Room at the Goring Hotel.
In the South West of England, Michael Caines who has 16 continuous years of stars at Gidleigh Park, at Chagford on Dartmoor, retained his two coveted stars this year.
The Treby Arms, a modest pub in the Devon village of Sparkwell, is again included in the 2016 Michelin Guide. Chef Anton Piotrowski and his wife, Clare, took on the pub just four years ago and won their first prestigious star last year. Our travel and food editor Natasha Heard visited this superb establishment in August and her review will be published online next week.
Also holding on to one star in the South West are Paul Ainsworth at No 6 in Padstow, The Driftwood, Portscatho, The Room in The Elephant, Torquay and The Masons Arms at Knowstone.
In Leeds, The Man Behind the Curtain – a self-described ‘ultra-modern’ restaurant located above a clothes shop – was awarded one star, as was The Cellar in Anstruther in Scotland.
Ireland gained a clutch of awards, with Eipic and Ox in Belfast and Greenhouse in Dublin all crowed with a single star.
Burr added: “The next generation of chefs are really coming through to give the established chefs a run for their money.
“They all have their own individual style and their ability – coupled with their confidence – looks set to lead them on to great things,” she added.
Founded over a century ago by two French brothers, the Michelin Guide is the annual oracle of gastronomy and it continues to hold a huge amount influence with foodies all over the world.
