National Restaurant Awards: Hand & Flowers takes 2013 title

A jubilant Kerridge and his wife Beth took to the stage this evening (7 October) at The Brewery in Chiswell Street, London, to collect their award from guest of honour Joan Roca of Spain’s El Celler de Can Roca - the World’s Best Restaurant.

Now in their sixth year, Restaurant magazine’s National Restaurant Awards recognise and celebrate the 100 best places to eat out in the UK, as voted for by 150 industry experts. (Scroll down for the full list).

Interactive Map: The top 50

Brett Graham’s The Ledbury (2) slipped by just one place on the list this year after three successive years at the helm. And Jason Atherton’s Mayfair establishment Pollen Street Social also moved down by one to take up third spot. Atherton's latest London venture, Social Eating House, also features on this year's list, at number 33.

Meanwhile Simon Rogan’s Cartmel restaurant L’Enclume, which recently scored another 10 out of 10 in the 2014 Good Food Guide, moved up by seven places to number four. And The Clove Club, Isaac McHale’s new crowd-funded Shoreditch restaurant, came in at number five and was also this year’s Highest New Entry - an award sponsored by BigHospitality.

Proper Pub Food

But The Hand & Flowers ultimately stole the show, capping what has been a remarkable year for Kerridge. The chef, who has shot to fame as the presenter of new BBC series Proper Pub Food, also collected the Gastropub of the Year award for the second year running.

In the past month alone, Kerridge picked up the Chefs’ Chef of the Year accolade at the AA Hospitality Awards and saw his venue retain its two Michelin stars in the 2014 Michelin Guide- it is the only pub in the UK to hold such a status.

It was a great night for other food-led pubs as well, with The Sportsman in Seasalter, Kent (7) also in the top 10, and that venue’s head chef Stephen Harris winning the coveted Chef’s Chef of the Year award for his revival of artisan cooking techniques at his out-of-the-way pub.

Special Awards

A number of other special awards were also given out on the night; to The Kitchin (Best in Scotland), The Hardwick (Best in Wales), and Shu (Best in Northern Ireland). Meanwhile 10 Greek Street was hailed as having the Best Wine List, and Aiden Byrne’s new restaurant, Manchester House, was highlighted as this year’s One to Watch.

The Sustainable Restaurant of the Year award, given in conjunction with the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA), went to Bruno Loubet’s recently-opened vegetable-focused restaurant Grain Store, which also came just inside the top 10 on the night.

Industry votes

For restaurants to make it onto the top 100 list, they must be voted for by members of the National Restaurant Awards Academy. Made up of 150 restaurateurs, chefs, food critics and journalists across 12 regions, the rules state that members of the voting panel can vote for up to five restaurants in their own region with two remaining votes for restaurants outside their region. 

Nobody is allowed to vote for their own restaurant or restaurants they have a commercial interest or formal involvement with and voters must have eaten in the restaurants they have nominated within the last 12 months. For more information, visit www.nationalrestaurantawards.co.uk.

The evening’s guest of honour, Roca, was also in appearance at today’s Restaurant Show, being interviewed by Restaurant magazine’s editor, Will Drew. The trade show runs from 7-9 October at Earls Court Two in London.

National Restaurant Awards 2013: Full list

1. The Hand & Flowers – National Restaurant of the Year and Gastropub of the Year
2. The Ledbury
3. Pollen Street Social
4. L'Enclume
5. The Clove Club – Highest New Entry
6. Restaurant Sat Bains
7. The Sportsman - Chefs’ Choice (Stephen Harris)
8. The Square
9. Grain Store – Sustainable Restaurant of the Year
10. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
11. Dabbous
12. The Fat Duck
13. The Kitchin – Best Restaurant in Scotland
14. Hedone
15. Bocca Di Lupo
16. Brasserie Chavot
17. Restaurant Andrew Fairlie
18. 10 Greek Street - Best Wine List
19. Le Gavroche  
20. The Hardwick - Best Restaurant in Wales
21. Hibiscus
22. Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons
23. Quo Vadis
24. Restaurant Nathan Outlaw         
25. Midsummer House       
26. The Waterside Inn
27. The Quality Chop House
28. The Walnut Tree
29. HKK
30. L'Anima
31. The Seahorse Restaurant
32. Hawksmoor Air Street 
33. Social Eating House
34. Chez Bruce  
35. Paul Ainsworth at Number 6
36. The Elephant 
37. Michael Wignall at The Latymer
38. Kitchen Table at Bubbledogs
39. Alyn Williams at The Westbury
40. Le Champignon Sauvage
41. Viajante
42. St John
43. Ondine  
44. The River Café  
45. The Royal Oak Paley Street
46. Barrafina
47. Polpo 
48. Galvin La Chapelle
49. Zuma
50. The Chilli Pickle
51. Casamia
52. Koya
53. Bar Boulud  
54. Timberyard
55. Zucca  
56. Bistrot Bruno Loubet
57. The Pipe & Glass Inn
58. La Petite Maison
59. Locanda Locatelli
60. The Pig
61. Green Man & French Horn
62. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay 
63. Jose  
64. Arbutus       
65. Tyddyn Llan
66. Bone Daddies
67. Loves Restaurant 
68. Lima
69. Gidleigh Park 
70. PittCue
71. Galvin At Windows
72. The Seafood Restaurant
73. Hix Soho
74. Restaurant Martin Wishart
75. Purnell's
76. Tom Aikens Restaurant
77. MeatLiquor
78. The Star at Harome
79. Balthazar
80. The Pass at South Lodge  
81. Duck & Waffle
82. The Vineyard at Stockcross  
83. Rocksalt
84. Drake's
85. Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester
86. Shu - Best Restaurant in N. Ireland
87. Hartnett Holder & Co
88. Hutong
89. Cinnamon Kitchen
90. Aumbry
91. Galvin Bistrot de Luxe
92. The Hinds Head
93. Goodman Mayfair
94. Hereford Road
95. Restaurant Story
96. Dinings
97. Newman Street Tavern
98. The Montagu Arms
99. Flinty Red
100. Roka

One To Watch (chosen by Restaurant magazine) – Manchester House.