Friday five: the week's top hospitality stories
- Parkers Arms in Newton-in-Bowland in Lancashire has claimed the top spot as the UK’s top gastropub in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list 2023. The gastropub, which is run by chef-patron Stosie Madi and business partner Kathy Smith, rose from last year's ranking of number two in the annual list. It is also currently ranked number 44 on the list of the UK’s Top 100 Restaurants.
- The 2023 Michelin star revelation ceremony for Great Britain & Ireland will once again become a physical event, with the ceremony to be held this spring. The unveiling of the new guide will take place at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire on 27 March.
- London-based chophouse brand Blacklock will open its fifth and biggest restaurant to date this spring in Canary Wharf. Housed in a standalone warehouse under the railway tracks in the financial district's North Dock, Blacklock's latest site will hold 120 covers across a 4,000sq ft space and include a 10-metre bar and outdoor terrace.
- Tom Sellers is launching a Parisian inspired rotisserie style restaurant in London’s Seven Dials this spring. The chef-patron of two Michelin-starred Restaurant Story in Bermondsey will open Story Cellar at 17 Neal’s Yard in March.
- Denmark has won the Bocuse d’Or with Norway and Hungary coming second and third place respectively in the world’s most high profile cooking competition. The UK team, led by The Ritz premier sous chef Ian Musgrave, placed seventh in the biennial competition, which is held in Lyon.
