Coming ahead of the presentation of the Michelin Guide 2023 next week, restaurants including Luke Farrell’s Plaza Khao Gaeng in London (pictured), The Flint House in Brighton, and the recently-launched Root Wells in Somerset are among those to receive a Bib this year, which is awarded to restaurants 'offering particularly good quality, good value cooking'.
Among the new entries, five were already recommended in the Guide while 15 are brand new additions for 2022.
The South West of England is the region to see the highest number of new Bib Gourmands awarded
In the region, Bristol stands out for having three new Bib Gourmand-awarded restaurants with Marmo, The Blaise Inn, and COR all joining the selection.
Somerset also sees three new awards, with all three restaurants featuring in the Guide for the first time. Alongside Roots Wells, these include The Chequers in Bath, and the Queen of Cups in Glastonbury.
Meanwhile, in Devon, Emilia in Ashburton and The Galley in Topsham have both been awarded Bib Gourmands.
London sees a total of four new restaurants receive Bibs. As well as Plaza Khao Gaeng, they include Notting Hill gastropub The Pelican; neighbourhood restaurant Hām in West Hampstead; and izakaya concept Evernight in Nine Elms.
Moving up to the East Midlands, Bib Gourmands have been awarded to the Six Bells in Witham, and Kushi-Ya in Nottingham; while in Manchester, The Spärrows has also been added to the Guide.
Wales has received a single new Bib Gourmand in the form of Yr Hen Printworks in Cardigan, while Ireland also sees three new awards with both EDŌ and Waterman in Northern Ireland, and Saint Francis Provisions in the Republic all receiving a Bib.
No new Bib Gourmands were awarded to restaurants in Scotland.
“With 20 new Bib Gourmand restaurants joining the 2023 edition of the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland, our inspectors have spotlighted establishments that stand out for their fine and generous cooking across a diverse range of styles; places that really deserve to be known by gourmets looking for their good quality, good value cooking,” says Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides.
“As chefs in Great Britain and Ireland face rising day-to-day costs – from the raw ingredients they purchase to the energy they use to keep their kitchens and restaurants running – it is heartening to see many of them also finding inventive ways to create affordable menus and keep costs down for their guests, while still offering creative and exciting culinary experiences.”
At the time of writing, it is not known how many Bib Gourmand restaurants in total will feature in the 2023 Guide, although BigHospitality has contacted Michelin for clarification.
The full online listings for the 2023 Bib Gourmand restaurants will be updated on Monday evening (27 March) following the Great Britain & Ireland 2023 Michelin Guide Ceremony, when all of the new Michelin Stars, Green Stars and Special Awards will be announced.
The full list of new Bib Gourmand restaurants
England
COR, Bristol
Emilia, Ashburton
Evernight, London
Hām, LondonKushi-Ya, Nottingham
Marmo, Bristol
Plaza Khao Gaeng, London
Queen of Cups, Glastonbury
Root Wells, Wells
Six Bells, Witham on The Hill
The Blaise Inn, Bristol
The Chequers, Bath
The Flint House, Brighton and Hove
The Galley, Topsham
The Pelican, London
The Spärrows, Manchester
Wales
Yr Hen Printworks, Cardigan
Northern Ireland
EDŌ, Belfast
Waterman, Belfast
Republic of Ireland
Saint Francis Provisions, Kinsale