Michelin has unveiled its latest round of acclaimed hospitality spots, with the announcement of the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2023. Included in the Michelin star winners list, which was unveiled at Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire, are a wide selection of hotel restaurants.
The only hotel restaurant to newly acquire two stars was Alex Dilling’s Hotel Café Royal, the dishes at which are described as a “seasoned orchestra”. Awarded its star just six months after opening, the 34-cover venue serves contemporary French cuisine, with signature dishes that range from bouillabaisse with marinated red mullet, to oeuf doré – a combination of smoked sturgeon, potato and aged Kaluga caviar.
“We built our team and restaurant from scratch with many past colleagues joining me to help realise my dream of opening my own restaurant,” says Dilling, reflecting on the big win. “This includes my Head Chef Pierre Minotti, GM Benoit and our restaurant owner Victoria Sheppard. To achieve one, let alone two stars so early in our restaurant journey is testament to our team’s dedication and hard work.”
Meanwhile, a whole host of hotel restaurant venues have been newly awarded one star. Ben Wilkinson at The Pass, Horsham, which serves up modern British cuisine in a country house hotel, has been lauded for its “tasting menu of appealingly understated dishes”, while another classic British country spot, Woven by Adam Smith has also scooped a star within six months of its September 2022 opening.
Over in Carlisle, Pentonbridge Inn brought its first Michelin star to the area, making the restaurant now one of 11 Michelin starred restaurants in Cumbria. “Chris Archer is a chef who can deliver depth with just a handful of ingredients,” reads the latest Michelin Guide. “He doesn’t need to fall back on gimmicks or unnecessary flourishes, as this is all about well-judged combinations of flavours and textures.”
Other new hotel F&B winners included The Tudor Pass, Egham; The Samling, Ambleside; Gidleigh Park, Chagford; and Hampton Manor Grace & Savour.
As for familiar faces on the list, various hotel restaurants have retained their stars, including Northcote, Bybrook at The Manor House, Latymer at Pennyhill Park and Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall.
“It’s absolutely fantastic to hear that we have retained our Michelin star for a third year running – the team and I could not be more proud,” comments Rankin. “It’s an absolute pleasure to be able to work alongside such incredible local suppliers and I’m honoured to be able to use such a rich variety of their produce on our Taste of Home menu.”
Find the full list of 2023 winners here.
