Michelin Guide UK 2021: Three Michelin stars for Clare Smyth and Hélène Darroze

The Michelin Guide has announced the restaurants that will feature in the restaurant guide for 2021 in a virtual awards ceremony hosted by Davina McCall.

"Even today we are still facing tremendous difficulty and I spare a thought for those who are still struggling," said Gwendal Poullenec, international director for the Michelin Guide.

He said that this year, the guide isn't just about putting the country's top restaurants on a pedestal, but "promoting the hospitality industry as a whole and shining a light on the hard work and tenacity of restaurants throughout Great Britain and Ireland."

Taking the time to recognise the restaurants who have switched up their offering to takeaways, makeaways and deliveries, as well as those who gave back to their communities by feeding the vulnerable and key workers. 

The Welcome and Service award went to Noble Holywood in Northern Ireland; the Sommelier award went to karine canevet maison bleue in Bury St Edmunds; the Young Chef award went to Kray Treadwell of 670 grams and the 'Mentor Chef' award went to Ross Lewis of Chapter One in Ireland. 

In the second year of sustainability awards, the guide has introduced 'Green stars', handing out 23 of them to restaurants across Great Britain and Ireland.

Among them, the usual suspects: The Black Swan in Oldstead, Coombshead Farm, Inver, L'Enclume, Loam, Oxo Tower Brasserie, Petersham Nurseries Cafe, Silo, The Dining Room at Whatley Manor, Where the Light Gets In, Tredwells.

This year marked the first all-digital guide, as well as the launch of the Michelin app, where one can locate and browse for and book Michelin restaurants around the world. 

The stars

"Despite this challenging year, our inspectors were glad to find new talent emerging across Great Britain and Ireland," said Gwendal Poullenec, announcing stars for restaurants who have only been open for a short amount of time due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

Among the first to receive a Michelin star for their restaurants this year were Shaun Rankin, Tom Aikens, Merlin Labron-Johnson and Steven Smith. 

The remaining 13 are The Hide and Fox, Behind, Davies and Brook, Outlaw's New Road, Benares, Roots, Hjem and Cail Bruich, SOlLA, Behind, Casa Fofō, Cornerstone, Osip, Latymer at Pennyhill Park, Pea Porridge, and dede.

A. Wong, Da Terra, Restaurant Story

Hélène Darroze at The Connaught

Core by Clare Smyth