A Night of Culinary Brilliance: The MICHELIN Guide Ceremony Great Britain & Ireland 2024

Last night, amidst an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation, The MICHELIN Guide Ceremony Great Britain & Ireland 2024 took place at The Midland Hotel in Manchester. The event marked the 50th anniversary of the prestigious guide from Michelin.

‍The culinary world was abuzz with the unveiling of new stars, celebrating the exceptional talent and innovation found in kitchens across the region. Amongst the highlights were the unveiling of a new 3-star restaurant, along with 6 new 2-star restaurants and an impressive 18 new 1-star establishments.

Notably, The Ledbury in Notting Hill ascended to the prestigious status of a 3-star restaurant, solidifying its place as a culinary institution. Led by Brett Graham, The Ledbury has now achieved the very highest level of gastronomic honours and joins the likes of CORE by Clare Smyth, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught and L'Enclume in the 3-star category. A superb achievement for everyone involved.

Originally hailing from the West Midlands, I was particularly delighted to see Aktar Islam's Opheem being awarded 2 stars, a testament to the culinary prowess of the Birmingham based chef. Alongside Gymkana who have also been awarded 2-stars, it is fantastic to see two Indian restaurants rewarded for their outstanding efforts in striving for culinary excellence in this years awards.

In London, Brooklands by Claude Bosi at The Peninsula made a grand entrance with 2 stars. Nestled on the rooftop of the brand new luxury hotel opposite Wellington Arch, the cooking is delivered by Francesco Dibenedetto and showcases British ingredients at their very best. To go straight in with 2-stars is even more impressive considering its recent opening in October 2023.

Across the border, also gaining two stars is The Glenturret Lalique. Situated inside a working distillery with Lalique glass products at every angle, the cooking is left to Mark Donald and his team who continue to champion their exquisite approach with luxury ingredients like lobster, caviar and Wagyu beef.

Furthermore, Akoko and Chishuru who have showcased the vibrant flavours of West African cuisine have both been rewarded with a coveted Michelin star. Chef Adejoké Bakare's achievement as the first black female chef to be awarded a Michelin star in the UK is a significant milestone for representation in the culinary world.

Pavyllon's attainment of 1 star comes as no surprise, given Yannick Alléno's illustrious career and culinary expertise, further solidifying his position as one of the world's most decorated chefs. Alleno now has a total of 16 Michelin stars across 17 restaurants, making him the second highest awarded chef in the world.

Meanwhile, the Green Star category which was introduced to The MICHELIN Guide Great Britain & Ireland in 2021 saw 6 new additions in 2024 including Exmoor Forest Inn and St. Barts London. From locally foraging their ingredients and championing zero waste schemes and on-site orchards, Green star restaurants are continuing to lead the way when it comes to sustainable gastronomy and it is fantastic to see there are now 33 Green Star rated restaurants in the UK.

Amidst the celebrations however, there were also moments of reflection as some restaurants sadly lost their stars. Closures, including those of renowned establishments like Le Gavroche and Marcus in London, SY23 in Aberystwyth and Carters of Moseley in Birmingham, contributed to the removal of stars.

Yet, there were some surprises too, with the unexpected loss of stars for Hakkasan Mayfair and Hanway Place after 20 years, and Barrafina Dean Street, marking the end of an era for these iconic venues.

Nevertheless, the ceremony highlighted the remarkable talent across the country, reaffirming the UK's status as a global hub for culinary excellence. As we look forward to the next 12 months, we eagerly anticipate further openings and innovations that will continue to push boundaries and delight food enthusiasts worldwide. The MICHELIN Guide Ceremony Great Britain & Ireland 2024 was not just a celebration of gastronomy but a testament to the dedication and passion of chefs and restaurateurs across the region.

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The Results 2024

3 Stars

The Ledbury in London

2 Stars

Opheem in Birmingham

Gymkhana in London

Trivet in London

Brooklands in Peninsula Hotel in London

The Glenturret Lalique in Scotland

Terre in Cork

Green Star

ANNWN in Narberth

Exmoor Forest Inn, Simonsbath

Forge, Middleton Tyas

Interlude, Lower Beeding

St. Barts, London

The Whitebrook, Whitebrook

1 Star

At Cedar Tree by Hrishikesh Desai

Pavyllon London

The Bishop’s Buttery

Dorian in Notting Hill

Humo in Mayfair

Crocadon in St Mellion

Homestead Cottage in Doolin

Akoko at Fitzrovia

Lake Road Kitchen in Ambleside

Sushi Kanesaka in Mayfair

Humble Chicken in Soho

D’Olier Street in Dublin

Ormer Mayfair

Aulis in Soho

Chishuru in Fitzrovia

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Written by Steve Humpherson

Founder & Managing Director

CENSE - The Hospitality Agency

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