View all newsletters
Latest in Luxury - Sign up to our weekly newsletter
  1. Food & Drink
January 26, 2021updated Sep 28, 2021

Michelin Reveals Great Britain and Ireland Guide 2021

Two female chefs scooped up the top accolade of three stars for their restaurants.

By Emma Al-Mousawi

After what has been a year like no other for the restaurant industry, the Michelin Guide announced its new stars for 2021 in Great Britain and Ireland at its annual Michelin Star Revelation ceremony on January 25. As the ceremony moved online for the first time, records were set, with not one but two restaurants helmed by female chefs awarded the pinnacle of three stars. 

Core by Clare Smyth became the first UK female-run restaurant to be awarded three stars. Smyth, the previous head chef at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, opened her debut restaurant just three years ago, with it quickly becoming widely regarded as one of the best in the country. The Northern Irish chef said: “It’s been my dream to achieve this level, but I never imagined it could happen… For the future, I hope young chefs – both male and female – have the chance to own a restaurant and achieve success. It’s an important message for now [given Covid-19].” 

[See also: A Guide to All Three-Michelin-Star Restaurants in Spain]

Also receiving a coveted third star was Hélène Darroze at The Connaught. Darroze, who has had an illustrious career seeing her establish restaurants in Paris and Moscow, opened at The Connaught in 2008. On the announcement of the award, the renowned French chef said: “I am thinking of all women in the kitchen, and I want to let them know that everything is possible and believe in who you are.”

Hélène Darroze

Chef Hélène Darroze / ©Hélène Darroze at The Connaught

Clare Smyth pictured in the kitchen at Core / ©Core by Clare Smyth

Other notable winners included A Wong in London, which was awarded a second Michelin star, making it the first Chinese restaurant in the UK to achieve two-star status, and Cail Bruich, the first restaurant in Glasgow to be awarded a Michelin star in nearly two decades.  

[See also: The Macallan 1926 Set for Whisky Auction Record]

In a night of firsts, the 2021 ceremony also saw the Michelin Guide UK and Ireland recognize sustainability with a new accolade: the Green Star. Twenty-three restaurants across the UK and Ireland were awarded the distinction, which honors restaurants at the forefront of ethical and environmental standards. The list includes one-Michelin-starred Loam in Galway, run by chef-owner Enda McEvoy, who is a true champion of natural ingredients. Also making the list is Inver, a small restaurant tucked away on the shores of Loch Fyne on Scotland’s west coast, which serves fresh seafood and native game in season. A full list of Green Star restaurants can be found here

For a full list of all 22 restaurants to be awarded new stars in the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2021, see below.

New three-Michelin-star restaurants

Core by Clare Smyth, London

Content from our partners
W New York - Times Square: "We Do Things Differently"
The Finest Destinations to Fly Private with Qatar Executive
A Weekend Travel Guide to Austin, Texas

Helene Darozze at The Connaught, London

New two-Michelin-star restaurants 

A Wong, London

Da Terra, London

Story, London

New one-Michelin-star restaurants 

Behind, London

Benares, London

Cail Bruich, Glasgow

Casa Fofo, London

Cornerstone, London

Davies & Brook, London

Dede, Baltimore

Hide & Fox, Saltwood

Hjem, Northumberland

Latymer at Pennyhill Park, Bagshot

Muse by Tom Aikens, Belgravia

Outlaw’s New Road, Port Isaac

Osip, Bruton

Pea Porridge, Bury St Edmonds

Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall, Ripon

Sola, London

Roots, York

Find out more on the Michelin Guide website

Select and enter your email address Be the first to know about the latest in luxury lifestyle. Get the latest news on hotel openings and in-depth travel guides. Get insider access to exclusive promotions and special offers from our luxury partners.
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thank you for subscribing to Elite Traveler.

Websites in our network