This week we announced our annual list of the UK’s Top 100 Restaurants, compiled thanks to your votes and views. As the dust settles and our winner The Fat Duck recovers from the hangover, we’ve been reflecting on the results. Which new openings performed the best? Where are the greatest concentrations of stupendous places to eat? Don your lab coats and safety goggles everybody: here are the stats.
Top new openings
21. Forest Side, Grasmere, Cumbria (above)
Our highest new entry is also brand new this year and home to former L’Enclume chef, Kevin Tickle.
27. Adam’s Restaurant, Birmingham
Owner and chef Adam Stokes heads up this Michelin-starred, sophisticated European restaurant.
33. Burnt Truffle, Heswall, Merseyside
The product of a successful crowdfunding campaign, this is the sibling to Gary Usher’s Sticky Walnut in Cheshire, itself at 10 on our list.
44. Yu, Alderley Edge, Cheshire
Brothers Victor and Vinny Yu (behind Yu & You in Blackburn) have brought their winning Chinese formula to Cheshire.
63. Benedict’s, Norwich
Opened in 2015, this is home to Richard Bainbridge, former head chef at Michelin-starred Morston Hall (number 83) and a familiar face on The Great British Menu.
Highest climber
7. Fraiche, Oxton, Wirral (above)
Last year, we ranked Merseyside’s French star at number 28, meaning 2016 saw it climb a huge 21 places.
Top gastropub
9. The Hand & Flowers, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Tom Kerridge’s flagship was our overall winner in 2015, only to be knocked aside this year by an overweight mallard.
Luckiest region
South East England has 30 restaurants in this year’s Top 100, which is an increase of nine from last year. As well as The Fat Duck and The Hand & Flowers, South East England also boasts Artichoke, at number 5 on our list (pictured above).
Top cities
Edinburgh is officially the most delicious UK city with seven restaurants in the top 100, followed by Manchester with four and Birmingham and Brighton, each with three.
Edinburgh
13. Restaurant Mark Greenaway
16. The Kitchin
23. Galvin Brasserie de Luxe at The Caledonian
38. Castle Terrace
41. The Pompadour by Galvin
95. The Witchery by the Castle
99. The Gardener’s Cottage
Manchester
12. Manchester House
14. The French by Simon Rogan
29. Mr Cooper’s House & Garden
84. Australasia
Birmingham
22. Simpsons
27. Adam’s Restaurant
97. Turners Restaurant
Brighton
24. 64 Degrees
76. The Ginger Pig (in Hove)
92. Riddle and Finns The Lanes
This is our chance to highlight Great Britain’s greatest restaurants outside of London, but if only the Big Smoke will do, check out our recently announced London’s hot 100 restaurants list.
Alternatively, click here for full details of our UK Top 100 restaurants 2016.
This article was published 15 July 2016
Yasmin Godfrey