Heston Blumenthal retains the UK's culinary crown - but a new elite of chefs are hot on his heels, reveals The Good Food Guide 2012* in its annual ranking of the UK's Top 50 restaurants.

Whilst the Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire retains its 10 out of 10** rating in continued recognition that "˜eating here is the experience of a lifetime', the new edition of The Good Food Guide reveals that a passionate group of chefs and their highly individual cooking styles are having a significant and thrilling impact on the UK dining scene - as shown in the restaurant guide's "˜Top 50' ranking.

Chefs Simon Rogan at L'Enclume (ranked number 2), Sat Bains at Restaurant Sat Bains (number 3) and new entry Jason Atherton's Pollen Street Social (number 8) are redefining ideas on what is good food and what constitutes a great restaurant, claims the Guide.***

Elizabeth Carter, Consultant Editor of the Guide, confirms: "Personally I am extremely excited by the surge this collective of chefs is showing in our top 10 rankings - whilst it's impossible to pigeonhole them, each is devising quality dishes fusing classical skills and modern methods - it's the vividness of the imagination they all display which is truly thrilling."

Other chefs making their presence felt at the upper end of The Good Food Guide's ranking include "˜honorary Englishman' Claude Bosi whose London restaurant Hibiscus appears in the top 10 for the first time as "˜a serious contender on the international food scene', and Cornwall's Nathan Outlaw, holding on to the number 5 position, who offers "˜one of the finest dining experiences in the south west'. Popular stalwarts Raymond Blanc, Marcus Wareing, Gordon Ramsay and Philip Howard make up the rest of the top 10 as they all continue to deliver excellent fine dining to the public.

Elizabeth Carter concludes: "The Good Food Guide 2012 showcases what has been a fascinating year for dining in the UK.  The dining scene across the country is vibrant, with some supremely talented chefs serving innovative food which is winning our readers' hearts - there is much to be excited about.'

The Good Food Guide 2012 Top 10 Restaurants (Cooking score out of 10 and last year's ranking shown in brackets)

1. The Fat Duck, Bray, Berkshire (score 10; last year's ranking 1)
2. L'Enclume, Cartmel, Cumbria  (score 9; last year's ranking 4)
3. Restaurant Sat Bains, Nottingham (score 9; last year's ranking 6)
4. Gordon Ramsay, Royal Hospital Road, London (score 9; last year's ranking 2)
5. Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Rock, Cornwall (score 8, last year's ranking 5)
6. Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Oxfordshire (score 8; last year's ranking 3)
7. Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley, London (score 8; last year's ranking 7)
8. Pollen Street Social, London (score 8; NEW ENTRY)
9. Hibiscus, London (score 8; last year's ranking 11)
10. The Square, London (score 8; last year's ranking 10)
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** The definition of a 10 out of 10 restaurant in The Good Food Guide: "˜it is extremely rare that a restaurant can achieve perfect dishes on a consistent basis.' *** Elizabeth Carter commented on these three chefs individually: Simon Rogan - "˜Simon is all about pushing boundaries, changing perceptions and forging links between nature and the kitchen.  His cooking is a revelation from start to finish - go eat his food.' Sat Bains - "˜Sat Bains' cooking can only be described as marvellous, matching consistency with brilliance.  I can't recall a time in the Guide's history when a restaurant went from a score of 7 to 8 and then to 9 in consecutive years, but we had to do justice to the heights he is reaching.' Jason Atherton - "˜Pollen Street Social was one of the most eagerly awaited London openings of 2011 and it is a triumph.  Pace-setting invention has always defined Jason's style and this newly energized chef is cooking better than ever.'

>>> Read more about the Good Food Guide 2016