Michelin Guide 2018: our predictions

Michelin Guide 2018: our predictions

Michelin Guide 2018: our predictions

by Tom Shingler25 September 2017

Guessing which restaurants will gain Michelin stars every year is always tricky, but there are certainly some that we think deserve to be put in the spotlight. Take a look at the ones we’re tipping to be this year’s winners.


Michelin Guide 2018: our predictions

Guessing which restaurants will gain Michelin stars every year is always tricky, but there are certainly some that we think deserve to be put in the spotlight. Take a look at the ones we’re tipping to be this year’s winners.


Tom Shingler is the former editor of Great British Chefs.

Tom Shingler was the editor at Great British Chefs until 2021, having first joined Great British Chefs in 2015.

Tom Shingler is the former editor of Great British Chefs.

Tom Shingler was the editor at Great British Chefs until 2021, having first joined Great British Chefs in 2015.

Michelin – whether you think it’s important in this day and age of dining or not – has to be the biggest event of the year in the world of fine dining. Restaurants can see their businesses change overnight with the news they’ve been awarded a star, and it often puts them on the map for years to come. It can turn a small restaurant in the middle of nowhere into a bonafide culinary destination, or secure the status of one based in a city as one of the UK’s best.

While the list is always going to be subjective – every foodie will have their own opinions over whether an establishment is worthy of a star (or not) – it’s a great way to discover new places to eat that weren’t on your radar before. And while we can all guess, speculate and predict what will happen when the Michelin Guide 2018 is announced on 2 October, there will always be some surprises in the mix.

The restaurants below are those that we think are at the forefront of great food in the UK today, and – in our opinion – are worthy of a Michelin star. We hope that each one will gain their first star (or win their second), but it is of course up to the mysterious Michelin inspectors to decide the definitive list. We’re really eager to see some new three-star restaurants announced – Restaurant Sat Bains and L’Enclume are certainly deserving of the status – but it’s the new one and two stars that make for the most exciting news.

Take a look at our Michelin predictions below and let us know of any you think should be added (a lot of you have already said La Dame de Pic and Anglo are shoe-ins for a star). We’ll be announcing the official results on Twitter and updating our extensive, complete guide to all the Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK shortly after.

108 Garage

This quirky little restaurant based in Notting Hill was a surprise hit when it opened at the very end of 2016. It quickly became one of the hottest places in the capital, thanks to head chef Chris Denney, who certainly has plenty of Michelin pedigree. Previously working in places such as Hambleton Hall, The Square and the three-starred Piazza Duomo in Italy, he’s no stranger to what it takes to get in the guide. While the food is a world away from his more classical background, it’s inventive, fun and just a little bit crazy. He’s one of the hardest working chefs in Britain, and 108 Garage is hotly tipped to get its first star.

A Wong

We’re huge fans of A Wong at Great British Chefs, an unassuming restaurant in Pimlico that serves dishes based on the regional flavours of China. Head chef Andrew Wong has an incredible knowledge of the country’s vast cuisine and is able to create dishes that stay true to traditional tastes and presents them in a contemporary style. It’s already a favourite with the world’s greatest chefs – Albert Adria and Pierre Koffmann are regularly spotted there – and there really is no one else in the UK doing anything like it.

Ynyshir

Ynyshir already has one Michelin star, but many chefs we’ve talked to are certain this is the year it gets a second. Based in the Welsh countryside, it’s all too often assumed the food on offer is classic country house hotel fare, but on closer inspection it’s clear there’s so much more to chef Gareth Ward’s cuisine. Combining the best of Welsh produce with intricate Japanese techniques, the menu is a journey through incredible cooking, inventive presentation and some truly delicious flavours.

Lympstone Manor

It came as a shock when Michael Caines left the two-starred Gidleigh Park to open his own country house hotel, which opened at the beginning of 2017. Now chef-owner of his own business, Michael has created something very special on the Axe Estuary in Devon – one of the UK’s best country house hotels. The food on offer in the restaurant is just as refined and accomplished as when Michael was at Gidleigh, so we can’t see why he won’t get a nod in this year’s Michelin Guide.

Elystan Street

Another high profile chef who left a two-star restaurant to do something new, Phil Howard’s decision to close The Square and open Elystan Street has proven to be a good one. While Phil himself said he wanted his new place to be less formal and a bit more relaxed, there’s no denying the food on offer is anything but incredible. Phil’s definition of casual is probably quite a bit different from ours, and the Michelin inspectors will certainly have paid a visit to see what the acclaimed chef is creating at his new venture.

Bibendum

Completing the list of two-starred chefs who have moved on in the past year is Claude Bosi, who closed the celebrated Hibiscus and took up the head chef position at London’s Bibendum. It’s already become a must-visit for any lover of fine food and drink, with Claude focusing more on gutsy French classics than the complex tasting menus of his past. Saying that, there’s plenty of the chef’s inimitable talent on show, with little amuse bouches and deft touches certainly putting Bibendum into Michelin star territory. It is, of course, also housed in the old Michelin headquarters, so a star would be a fitting reward for the chef’s hard work.

64 Degrees

Brighton has become one of the best places for food and drink in the UK over recent years, with dozens of incredible restaurants and trendy bars lining its streets. The chef at the forefront of the city’s culinary scene is Michael Bremner, who opened 64 Degrees a few years ago. With a concise menu of small plates to pick and choose from inspired by cuisines from all over the world, you’re bound to try something you’ve never had before. After his win on this year’s Great British Menu, the next logical step is a sticker of a Michelin star stuck on the front door.

The Little Fish Market

64 Degrees is certainly Brighton’s most well-known restaurant, but closer to Hove lies The Little Fish Market – an equally worthy winner. With just one chef (Duncan Ray) and one person running front of house (Rob Smith), it’s a small, one menu establishment that makes the most of local fish and seafood. Duncan previously worked at The Fat Duck, but don’t expect lots of dry ice and sous vide – he prefers to cook things simply, and does so with impeccable skill.

Moor Hall

Moor Hall has been a good few years in the making, but has now been running at its full potential for a good year. Chef Mark Birchall was previously head chef at Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume, so certainly knows how to put together a plate of food worthy of a Michelin star. The restaurant itself is housed inside a beautiful building that also includes a hotel and a more casual restaurant that’s only just opened, and we’re sure Mark will be getting a star either this year or the next.

The Three Chimneys

The Three Chimneys has had a Michelin star in the past, but when the head chef left a few years ago it lost it. However, with Scott Davies now in charge, bringing his hyperlocal cuisine to the Isle of Skye, we think that's all about to change. He's an incredible talent in the kitchen, using produce sourced from the island whenever he can to create truly incredible dishes with a New Nordic vibe. It's already a destination restaurant with plenty of awards, but a Michelin star would certainly make a fine addition.

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