The Michelin Guide revealed its latest ratings at a ceremony in Dublin on Monday night, but Great Britain and Ireland's top tier remained unchanged. No restaurants received a coveted third star, defying speculation that Ireland would claim its first. Despite the static summit, the guide celebrated a vibrant dining scene below, awarding first Michelin stars to 20 restaurants and elevating two London establishments to two-star status.
The new one-star recipients showcase culinary diversity across the region. Fifty Two at Rudding Park in Harrogate stood out with its "Dessert Islands Discs" concept, where guests choose music to accompany their meal. Chef Adam Degg explained they aim to "try to create a party in the restaurant".
Mare by Rafael Cagali in Brighton and Hove made history as the city's first Michelin-starred restaurant in nearly 50 years. The Wilderness in Birmingham and The Pullman in Galway—two restored Orient Express carriages house the restaurant—also joined the one-star ranks.
Two London restaurants climbed to two-star status: Row on 5 and Bonheur by Matt Abe. Row on 5's sommelier Roxane Dupuy received additional recognition as Sommelier of the Year.
Ten restaurants retained their three-star ratings across Great Britain and Ireland.
Special recognition
The guide distributed several special awards beyond star ratings. Tom Earnshaw of Bohemia on Jersey won the Young Chef Award. The chef, who draws inspiration from beach walks with his dog, said it was "just nice to get away from it all sometimes".
Shwen Shwen in Kent—bringing Sierra Leone flavors to Sevenoaks—claimed Opening of the Year. Maria Bradford said her family's restaurant "literally represents the underrepresented".
Barbara Nealon of Saint Francis Provisions in Kinsale, Co Cork, won the Service Award. When asked about great service, she quipped: "just liking your customers".
Sebb's in Glasgow earned the Exceptional Cocktail Award, while seven restaurants received Green stars for embracing responsible gastronomy.
Historic Dublin ceremony
Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, called the Dublin ceremony a "true historic event for Irish hospitality" and a "milestone" recognizing "not only exceptional cooking, but the people, places and passion that define Irish food culture and hospitality". Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey handed out the Sommelier of the Year and Service Awards.
John Wyer of Forest Avenue in Dublin, which earned a star, summed up his approach: "When you love what you do, its easy and we love what we do".
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
