Michelin Guide UK 2023: Lack of female chefs and three-star restaurants mark this year's event

The Michelin Guide Ceremony was held at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire, where all the new Michelin Stars, Green Stars and Special Awards were unveiled.

20 restaurants have been newly awarded one Michelin Star; 3 restaurants awarded two Michelin stars; and 4 restaurants who have received a Michelin green star.

There were no new three Michelin star additions Great Britain and Ireland.

The MICHELIN Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2023 recommends 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.

Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides commented: “Great Britain & Ireland continues to impress with the sheer variety of its Michelin Stars. Whether diners are looking for somewhere formal or casual, historic or new, there is a Michelin Starred establishment for them.”

He added: “In every region of Great Britain and Ireland, you can now find hugely talented chefs calling out to gourmets with their exquisite and accomplished cuisine. To have 20 new One Michelin Stars and 3 new Two Stars in a year where the hospitality industry has faced so many challenges, is an extraordinary achievement."

“The addition of four new Michelin Green Stars to the selection is also a clear illustration of the growing desire within the restaurant industry for more sustainable gastronomy,” Gwendal concluded.

Speaking as part of press conference, Gwendal and his chief inspectors took questions from members of press following this year’s live announcement.

A lack of female representation

Despite the event representing a triumph for the UK’s world-class hospitality industry, there were no female faces represented amongst the 4 new two-star additions, 20 new one-star additions, and 4 new green stars.

Replying to the question asked by The Staff Canteen’s Editor Cara Houchen, a Michelin Guide UK Chief Inspector explained: "We're seeing many more ladies bringing dishes to our tables and I'm not talking about the front of house team but I'm talking about chefs. We're seeing as we travel around and see these open kitchens and chefs who are bringing dishes up to the table, there are many more ladies involved in that process than there ever were."

He added: “As far as the inspector is concerned, it's not so much about who or the gender of the person who's bringing the dish to the table, it's about the quality of the cooking."

Echoing his colleague, Gwendal added: "There's no quota. Whatever the style, whatever the location, whatever the gender, but what is important at the end of the day for Michelin is the quality of the experience."

2023: A year without any new three stars

Following news that the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2023 would not feature any new three-star restaurants there was a sense of disappointment across Britain and Ireland, in particular from fans of Chapter One which was widely anticipated to secure that ultimate three-star accolade.

Responding to a question proposed by The Irish Times about the lack of three-star additions and the judging process, the Guide’s chief inspector explained: "To be clear, to become a three-star restaurant is to basically say that this is one of the best restaurants in the world. It's a restaurant that is going to provide an incredible experience not only just the sophistication and originality and personality of the cuisine, but it's also everything else that goes with it."

"When we make these decisions, and the inspectors absolutely love seeing a new restaurant join the family of three-star restaurants, we have to be very, very sure about decision,” he explained.

Hinting that Chapter One could be join the three-star family in the future, the chief inspector added: “Be in no doubt the restaurants are fully aware of Chapter One, the inspectors are fully aware of Chapter One and when we feel the time is right, we will go ahead and do it."

“Tremendous creativity of the chefs that we recognise”

When asked what changes had inspectors noticed across the UK and Ireland’s food industries in the last year, the Guide’s chief inspector was quick to praise the calibre of hospitality professionals across Great Britain and Ireland.

He explained: "I think it's hard to specify these particular trends, it's not fair to point a spotlight on one of them. What we should be acknowledging here is the tremendous creativity of the chefs that we recognise, not just tonight with the 20 new one stars and three new two stars, but also with all the existing holders of Michelin stars.”

He added: “They are the people you should be asking the question of; they are the people who are looking for new ways in which to capture their audience and to deliver a great experience."