Michelin names 18 new one star restaurants as Fat Duck regains its three-star status

03 October 2016 by James Stagg

The Fat Duck has regained the three-Michelin stars that it held before relocating to Melbourne, Australia, for six months.

Michelin also announced one new two star and 18 new one stars in its 2017 Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland.

At a live event held at the Institution of Engineering and Technology in the capital, the Raby Hunt in Darlington was announced as the only new two-star property. Run by chef-patron James Close, the restaurant scrapped lunch service last October in an attempt to improve staff quality of life and creativity among its chefs.

Meanwhile, the new one-Michelin-starred restaurants included The Ritz London, Forest Side in Grasmere, Cumbria and Trinity in Clapham Common, London.

The Fat Duck regained its three-Michelin-starred status after the award was suspended while the restaurant relocated to Melbourne, Australia last year. Heston Blumenthal and Jonny Lake, head chef of the Fat Duck, were in attendance at the awards.

Gidleigh Park retained its two-Michelin stars after Michael Wignall joined the restaurant in January.

He said: "We're delighted to have been awarded two stars by Michelin, arguably the most revered restaurant guide among chefs, restaurant critics and our guests. Since arriving at Gidleigh Park in January this year, the team has worked tirelessly and it's great to see their efforts recognised with two stars from the Michelin Guide."

There were no new three-Michelin-stars awarded, despite rumours that the live event would signal a new stellar honour.

Those to retain their one-star status despite a change of chef included the Isle of Eriska, Petrus in London and the Royal Oak at Paley Street.

This year is strikingly similar to the 2016 results, which saw no new three stars, two new two stars, and 15 new one stars.

The guide book also took the opportunity to award two new awards - the Female Award to outgoing restaurant Gordon Ramsay chef-patron Clare Smyth, and the Welcome and Service Award to Peel's at Hampton Manor in Hampton in Arden, near Solihull.

New two Michelin-starred restaurantsRaby Hunt, Darlington

New one Michelin-starred restaurantsCrown at Burchetts Green, Berkshire Tudor Room at Great Fosters hotel, Surrey Forest Side, Grasmere Thomas Carr @ The Olive Room, Devon Wild Rabbit, Oxfordshire Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, Windemere Sosban & the Old Butchers, Anglesey James Sommerin, Penarth Heron & Grey, Dublin
Peel's at Hampton Manor, Solihull Five Fields, London Céleste at the Lanesborough hotel, London Ellory, London
The Ritz, London Veeraswamy, London Trinity, London The Ninth, London
Pidgin, London