Predicting Michelin stars is always a bit tricky – no one really knows how the secretive Michelin inspectors decide who gets the nod and who doesn’t. The Guide is desperately trying to shed its reputation for favouring old-school, white-tablecloth-and-silver-service establishments over more casual spots (giving a star to a street food stand in Singapore being the most extreme example) – but many still believe a fancy dining room can tip the scales in a restaurant’s favour.
That said, there are some pretty sure bets for this year’s announcement (both formal and casual), as some very high-profile restaurants have opened in the past twelve months or so. We’ve put together a list of the restaurants we believe should be winning a Michelin star or getting their second or third below. While we won’t have any clue if they do or not until the awards on 1 October, they are certainly some of the best examples of cooking in the UK today and, accolades aside, should be at the very top of your must-visit list.