Michelin Guide 2022 deletions: The Dining Room at Whatley Manor loses two star status

The restaurant underwent a change in leadership following the departure of chef Niall Keating late last year, with Ricki Weston subsequently promoted to executive chef.

Keating, who cut his teeth cooking for the likes of Sat Bains in Nottingham amongst others, joined the Wiltshire hotel as executive chef in 2016, with The Dining Room receiving two stars under his direction in the 2020 Guide.

Despite only launching his own menu at the restaurant earlier this month, Weston has successfully retained one of The Dining Room's two stars in the Michelin Guide for Great Britain & Ireland 2022, as well as holding on to its green star status. 

“I’m super happy,” says Weston.

“To have support from Michelin so early on in my tenure is amazing. Some might see it as a deletion, but with a new menu and a new chef, we can’t compare what we’re doing now to the offering there was before.

“This is a new chapter, and we’re going in a different direction with the cuisine, with much more emphasis on British ingredients. This is a fantastic achievement for the whole team, and I look forward to using it to help us all develop.”

Weston's menu at The Dining Room takes the form of a 12-course tasting menu with dishes including potato with trufflyn and onion; caviar with chicken and parsnip; and aged duck with carrot, date and berry sauce.

Discussing the menu, Michelin says: "Don’t be misled; the terse, understated descriptions belie the detail and creativity that goes into the modern, artfully presented dishes, which come with some intriguing contrasts of texture and flavour."

This morning's (16 February) digital event to commemorate the launch of the latest edition of the red book saw a total of 25 restaurants receive new star ratings, with Simon Rogan's flagship Cartmel restaurant L'Enclume awarded three stars. 

Five new two-star restaurants were also announced, and 19 new one-star restaurants recognised. In total, 194 Michelin-starred restaurants feature in the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2022.

In a statement, Michelin confirmed that four restaurants in this year's Guide had lost their one star status, but were still listed. They include Edinburgh's Number One at The Balmoral; Celeste at the Lanesborough in London; L'Ortolan in Shinfield, England; and Scottish restaurant Isle of Eriska.

Additionally, seven restaurants were removed because they ceased operation over the past year. They include Daniel Humm's Claridge's restaurant Davies and Brook; Simon Bonwick's The Crown at Burchetts Green; and Dom Robinson's The Blackbird pub, which the chef closed last year and recently relaunched as fine-dining restaurant Renaissant.