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.