Muse By Tom Aikens, Sollip, Kate Nicholls and more celebrated at Harden's London Restaurant Awards 2021

London's finest chefs, restaurateurs and street food vendors gathered at The Langham today to celebrate The Harden's London Restaurant Awards 2021.

Muse by Tom Aikens scooped up the award for 'top gastronomic experience', whilst the outstanding achievement award - the only category decided upon solely by the guide's editorial team - was given to UK Hospitality Leader Kate Nicholls - who also won the AA's equivalent award in 2020 - for representing and supporting the industry throughout and beyond the pandemic.

Among the 13 remaining categories, French-Korean fine dining fusion restaurant Sollip was named top newcomer, following in the footsteps of Emily Roux and Diego Ferrari, chef owners of Caractère, who won the award in 2019.

Andy Beynon's Michelin-starred Behind was named best seafood restaurant while the best vegetarian outpost went to 123V.

The award for best bar or pub went to The Canton Arms in South London, and the Best Wine list went to Noble Rot's Soho outpost. 

Based on the responses of more than 3,000 diners and a cumulative 30,000 nominations, this year's celebrations took place in an atmosphere of relief for those businesses who survived the past fifteen months, and of a desire to keep pushing the capital's culinary culture forward. 

In his opening speech, Harden's founder Peter Harden said that this year, the industry has shown "so much imagination, so much entrepreneurialism, so much 'sheer bloody-mindedness' to make sure we're still here after the year we've all had," and that "the strength of the shortlist in the awards today shows that rather that London, far from being down and out, is still the cutting edge of excitement and innovation in global restaurant-going." 

Tom Aikens' words echoed that sentiment, as he said he was "really really happy" to receive the award for Muse, and most importantly, "for the team, it's going to be amazing." 

"Work's definitely tasking, it's been a difficult, challenging year for everyone." having only opened in December 2019, and having pushed through some tough times to keep the momentum going.

"It's been challenging," he said, "but due to them and all of their hard work, we've won an amazing award."