Michelin gives White and Ladenis exactly what they asked for
The UK was left with just one three-Michelin-star restaurant this week, after the Oak Room Marco Pierre White and Chez Nico at Ninety Park Lane were removed from the latest guide. The Waterside Inn in Bray on Thames, Berkshire, is now the only three-star restaurant in the country.
But the number of starred restaurants in the UK has increased to 99, from 95 last year.
Michelin disputed White claims that he had "handed back" his stars last year in readiness for his plans to quit cooking. It also denied that Ladenis, who from next month is cutting his menu prices by 30%, handed in his three stars (Caterer, 30 September 1999, page 5).
But it did admit it had removed the restaurants following discussions with the chefs.
A spokesman said: "There is nothing they can hand back. They informed us of their plans and as a result we really did not want to leave two three-star restaurants in the guide that possibly would not be at the same standard. They will be reassessed for inclusion next year."
He added: "If we published a guide with three-star restaurants that were serving one-star food it would make a mockery of the guide."
Despite being widely tipped for a third star, Gordon Ramsay's Chelsea restaurant continues to trade with two.
Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, is the only restaurant to have climbed from one star to two.
Pied à Terre in London has been demoted from two stars to one and 10 one-star restaurants have also been downgraded.
Sixteen restaurants have received their first star, including London's Orrery, Conran's only Michelin-starred restaurant.
In total, 124 restaurants have Bib Gourmands, compared with 105 last year.
by Louise Bozec
•
See next week or Caterer‘s Web site for a full list of the new starred restaurants.