List of Michelin 3-star restaurants in the United Kingdom explained

thumb|right|The Waterside Inn, the first restaurant outside France to hold three Michelin stars for 25 years

This article contains a list of Michelin 3-star restaurants in the United Kingdom.

Michelin stars are a rating system used by the red Michelin guide to grade restaurants on their quality. The guide was originally developed in 1900 to show French drivers where local amenities such as restaurants and mechanics were, the rating system was first introduced in 1926 as a single star, with the second and third stars introduced in 1933.[1] According to the Guide, one star signifies "a very good restaurant", two stars are "excellent cooking that is worth a detour", and three stars mean "exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey".[2] The listing of starred restaurants is updated once a year.[3]

The first restaurant in the UK to gain a Michelin star was Albert and Michel Roux's Le Gavroche, in London.[4] It went on to become one of the first UK restaurants to win a second star in 1977, and the first to win a third, in 1982. In 2010 the Roux family's second restaurant, the Waterside Inn, became the first restaurant outside France to have held three Michelin stars for 25 years.[5] The Roux family was also influential in training and influencing other chefs who themselves have gone on to win Michelin stars; Pierre Koffmann,[6] Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsay all went on to open restaurants which earned three Michelin stars after working with the Roux brothers.[7] [8]

As of February 2024 there were nine restaurants in the UK holding three Michelin stars, with all except L’Enclume (Cumbria) located in London or the south of England.[9]

List of Michelin 3-star restaurants

RestaurantChefCuisineLocationCurrentRef.
Year to star
Alain Ducasse at the DorchesterLondon20092010–present[10]
Chez NicoFrench cuisineReading, Berkshire (1973–1981),
London (1982–1999)
1981–19831984–19941995–1999Closed[11]
Molecular gastronomyBray, Berkshire1999–20012002–20032004–2015,

2017–present
[12] [13]
La Tante ClaireFrench cuisineLondon19791980–1992,
1999–2002
1993–1998Closed[14]
Restaurant Gordon RamsayFrench cuisineLondon1999–20002001–present[15]
French cuisineLondon2001–200219941995–1999Closed
French cuisineBray, Berkshire1974–19761977–19841985–present[16]
The ArakiMitsuhiro ArakiJapanese cuisineLondon2016–20172018–2020[17]
French cuisineLondon2005–20112012–20182019–present[18]
Hélène Darroze at The ConnaughtFrench cuisineLondon2009–20112011–20212021–present[19]
Core by Clare SmythBritish cuisineLondon2018–20212021–present[20]
L'EnclumeBritish cuisineCartmel, Cumbria2005–20132013–20222022–present[21]
The LedburyBrett GrahamBritish cuisineNotting Hill, London2009-20102010-2021, 2023-20242024–present[22]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Boxell. James. Star-crossed. 3 March 2012. The Financial Times. 15 July 2011.
  2. News: Dixon. Rachel. Q&A: Michelin stars. 3 March 2012. The Guardian. 24 January 2008.
  3. News: Top Michelin-rated restaurants. 3 March 2012. Caterer and Hotelkeeper. 6 October 2011.
  4. News: Observer classic. 3 March 2012. The Guardian. 12 May 2002.
  5. News: Kapur . Sonia . Waterside Inn celebrates 25yrs of three-star quality . Maidenhead Advertiser . 20 May 2010 . 3 March 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120314110123/http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/article-16326-waterside-inn-celebrates-25yrs-of-three-star-quality/ . 14 March 2012 .
  6. News: Cooke. Rachel. Pierre Koffmann: 'Not enough British chefs cook from the heart'. 16 September 2012. The Observer. 20 June 2010.
  7. News: Barber. Lynn. What's eating Marco?. 16 September 2012. The Observer. 21 October 2007.
  8. News: Vines. Richard. Chef Albert Roux Has Advice for Protege Ramsay: Get Cooking. 16 September 2012. Bloomberg. 16 November 2010.
  9. News: 'Michelin Guide UK Latest' . 27 March 2023 . The Staff Canteen . 27 March 2023.
  10. News: Kuhn. Kerstin. New Michelin-starred restaurants praised by guide editor. 27 May 2012. Caterer and Hotelkeeper. 18 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20120214111632/http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/18/01/2010/331777/new-michelin-starred-restaurants-praised-by-guide-editor.htm. 14 February 2012. dead.
  11. News: Ryder. Bethan. When Marco met Nico. 16 September 2012. Evening Standard. 27 September 2001.
  12. News: Hyslop. Leah. Michelin Guide 2016: Japanese restaurants in London win coveted stars. 27 October 2015. 16 September 2015.
  13. News: Heston Blumenthal: Why snail porridge consumes me. 16 September 2012. CNN. 14 September 2012.
  14. News: Maschler. Fay. Koffmann's classic La Tante Claire. 16 September 2012. Evening Standard. 15 December 1998.
  15. News: Gordon Ramsay. 16 September 2012. Harden's.
  16. News: Norman. Matthew. Berkshire restaurant guide: The Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire. 16 September 2012. The Daily Telegraph. 18 June 2010.
  17. News: Hill. Lauren. Michelin Guide 2018: UK Winners Revealed. 10 October 2017. 2 October 2017.
  18. News: Michelin restaurant guide: Sketch (The Lecture Room & Library). 7 October 2019. 7 October 2019.
  19. News: Michelin restaurant guide: Hélène Darroze at The Connaught. 29 January 2021. 29 January 2021.
  20. News: Michelin restaurant guide: Core by Clare Smyth. 29 January 2021. 29 January 2021.
  21. News: Michelin restaurant guide: L'Enclume. 16 February 2022. 16 February 2022.
  22. News: Michelin restaurant guide: The Ledbury. 7 May 2024. 7 May 2024.