Michelin Guide 2017: Fat Duck regains Three Stars

Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck in Bray regained its Three Star rating after the restaurant temporarily moved to Melbourne for nine months in 2015.

Blumenthal said it was a ‘surprise’ to regain the award, apparently unaware that Michelin inspectors had visited the restaurant eight times over the past year.

The Raby Hunt in Darlington was named the Guide’s only new Two Star restaurant, four years after chef James Close won its first star.

London gained seven new One Star restaurants, including Jun Tanaka’s The Ninth and Adam Byatt’s Trinity.

There were also long-awaited stars for chef John Williams at The Ritz and London's oldest Indian restaurant Veeraswamy, which first opened in 1926.

Rebecca Burr, editor of the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2017, said: “London’s great variety of establishments, its history, but also its dynamism and vitality are illuminated by the capital’s new Michelin Stars.

“These establishments have long and illustrious histories, but the cooking has never been better than it is today.”

In Wales the island of Anglesey gained its first star for Sosban & The Old Butchers, while there was also a star for James Sommerin in Penarth.

Restaurants which have retained their stars under new chefs include Tom Brown at Outlaws at the Capital Hotel and Michael Wignall, who has held Two Stars at Gidleigh Park after joining in October 2015.

This year Michelin also presented its first special awards. Clare Smyth was named Michelin Female Chef 2017, while Peel’s at Hampton Manor won the first Welcome and Service Award.

As in 2015 there were no new Three Star restaurants announced.

Michelin Guide 2017: New Stars​

NEW TWO STARS​

• The Raby Hunt, Darlington

NEW ONE STARS​

England

• The Crown pub, Burchetts Green
• Tudor Room at The Great Fosters Hotel, Egham
• The Forest Side, Grasmere
• The Olive Room, Ilfracombe
• The Wild Rabbit, Kingham
• Gilpin Hotel and Lake House, Windemere
• Peel’s at Hampton Manor, Solihull

Wales

• Sosban & The Old Butchers, Anglesey
• Restaurant James Sommerin, Penarth, Wales

Republic of Ireland

• Heron & Grey, Dublin

London

• Five Fields, Chelsea
• Céleste at The Lanesborough Hotel Hyde Park
• Ellory, Hackney
• Ritz Restaurant at The Ritz London, Piccadilly
• Veeraswamy, Piccadilly
• Trinity, Clapham
• The Ninth, Fitzrovia
• Pidgin, Hackney