Michelin reveals stars at 2023 Great Britain and Ireland Guide launch

Alex Dilling at the Hotel Cafe Royal, Brett Graham of The Ledbury and Ahmet Dede of Dede have been awarded two Michelin stars in the 2023 Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland.

Twenty new one-star restaurants and three new two-star restaurants were announced during a ceremony at Silverstone Circuit in Northampton, which is the first in-person event held by the guide in the UK in three years.

No new three-star restaurants were announced, but Michelin has confirmed that all holders of the red book's highest accolade had retained the rating as had all holders of two Michelin stars.

Dede told The Caterer he was "so proud" to win another star for his Turkish restaurant, which opened during the pandemic in July 2020 in the small Irish village of Baltimore. "I'm so happy and relieved. It's the proudest thing to represent Turkey and Ireland. We do something different and a unique [at the restaurant]," he said.

Two-Michelin-star recipient Dilling said: "I am overwhelmed with achieving two Michelin stars just six months post opening. For our team it is the reward and motivation to keep striving for excellence.

"Pierre Minotti, Victoria Sheppard and myself, with our team have worked tirelessly to bring this project to fruition and are incredibly grateful of the industry support."

New recipients of one Michelin star include So-lo in Aughton (Tim Allen), the Samling in Windermere (Robby Jenks), Restaurant Twenty-Two in Cambridge (Sam Carter) and Gidleigh Park, Devon (Chris Eden).

Allen said he was "buzzing" to have won a star after a difficult few years since opening in summer 2021. "We opened in the pandemic and then we've gone into the cost of living [crisis] so it's been a real challenge," he said.

"We've been consistent in our product but our numbers have gone up and down. It's just the way it is in hospitality at the moment. It's been a real team effort to get us here, it's a lot to take in."

Eden said: "I'm incredibly proud to head up Gidleigh Park's kitchen, and to work with such passionate and hard working people, whose dedication gives our guests the best experience.

"This award belongs to everyone at the hotel – as a team they deserve it. I'd also like to recognise our producers, who are at the heart of what we do at Gidleigh Park – each day we showcase the amazing produce we have in the west country, and realise how lucky we are to be located here".

Jimmy Murray, head chef of Timberyard in Edinburgh, which achieved one-Michelin-star said: "It's such a fantastic feeling for all involved to have been awarded our first Michelin star. This has been so energising for me personally and I really look forward to our next exciting chapter."

Fellow one-star recipient Robert Chambers, head chef of Luca in London's Clerkenwell said: "I am immensely proud of this achievement, it has been a life-long ambition and we're so pleased for both the team and the restaurant."

As well as the presentation of Michelin stars the winners of Michelin green stars for sustainability and a number of special awards were announced.

Eight restaurants lost their Michelin stars in this year's guide.

Three stars None

Two stars

Ledbury, Kensington & Chelsea – Brett Graham

Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal, City of Westminster – Alex Dilling

Dede, Baltimore, Republic of Ireland – Ahmet Dede

One star

Pentonbridge Inn, Carlisle - Chris Archer

Gidleigh Park, Devon - Chris Eden

The Samling, Windermere - Robby Jenks

The Tudor Pass, Egham - Alex Payne

So-lo, Aughton - Tim Allen

Grace and Savour, Solihull - David Taylor

Timberyard, Edinburgh - James Murray

Heron, Leith - Tomás Gormley and Sam Yorke

Restaurant Twenty-Two, Cambridge - Sam Carter

The Pass, Horsham - Ben Wilkinson

Terre, County Cork - Vincent Crepel

Lumiere, Cheltenham - Jonathon Howe

Luca, Clerkenwell, London - Robert Chambers

Store, Stoke Holy Cross - Liam Nichols

Àclèaf, Plymouth - Scott Paton

Cycene, Shoreditch - Theo Clench

Heft, Grange-over-Sands - Kevin Tickle

Solstice, Newcastle - Kenny Atkinson

Taku, Westminster - Takuya Watanabe

St Barts, Farringdon - Johnnie Crowe

Twenty restaurants have already been awarded Bib Gourmands this year.

The Caterer also asked chefs, critics and industry experts for their thoughts on who might be in line to win a star.

Image: Andrei Antipov/Shutterstock