More than three quarters (11) of the Michelin-starred pubs highlighted in the Eating out in Pubs guide 2017 made it onto this year’s Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list.
You will find more Michelin-starred pubs in Berkshire (with three) than anywhere else in the country.
The Royal Oak in Maidenhead, the Hind’s Head in Bray and the Crown in Burchett’s Green are all in Berkshire.
While Oxfordshire has two with the Nut Tree in Murcott and the Sir Charles Napier in Sprigs Alley, Chinnor.
Hand & Flowers, Marlow, Buckinghamshire (two stars)
The UK’s only two Michelin-starred pub is owned by cheeky publican Tom Kerridge. It topped the Top 50 Gastropubs list three years in a row before being retired to the ‘hall of fame’ in 2015.
Kerridge and wife Beth have run the pub since 2005, achieving its first star in 2006 and a second in 2011.
The Coach, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Kerridge's second site, the Coach, received a Michelin star in the 2017 edition of the guide for its food and service,
With its sleek modern bistro-style, the pub sites just down the road from Kerridge's double Michelin-starred pub, the Hand & Flowers in Marlow and is a force to be reckoned with.
Star Inn, Harome, North Yorkshire
This year’s number one on The Morning Advertiser’s Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list, the Star Inn, Harome, North Yorkshire, has remained close to the top of the list over the years, before claiming the top spot for the third time in history in January.
The pub, which chef-patron Andrew Pern has owned for 20 years, has become synonymous nationwide with a dedication to fine produce and playful, yet refined, cooking.
The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent
Last year’s number one on the Top 50 list, the Sportsman, came in second this year. Chef-patron Stephen Harris was a completely self-taught chef, who abandoned a high-flying career in the City to open the pub.
Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge called Harris "one of the most talented chefs in the country" when the pub took the top spot at 2016’s Top 50 Gastropubs.
Pony & Trap, Chew Magna, Bristol
Brother and sister team Josh and Holly Eggleton’s Somerset site, which came third in this year’s Top 50 list, since 2011.
The Pony & Trap has ranked consistently in the list, coming in second in 2015 and fifth in 2016 before taking third place this year.
The Harwood Arms, Fulham
The only Michelin-starred pub in the capital and number six on Top 50, the Harwood Arms prides itself on being “not your average gastropub”.
The pub is co-owned by chef Brett Graham, whose double Michelin-starred Notting Hill restaurant, The Ledbury, was named the 14th best restaurant in the world in 2016’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Butchers Arms, Eldersfield, Gloucestershire
After being awarded a Michelin star in 2011, the Butchers Arms was also named Pub of the Year by the prestigious guide in October 2015 along with coming in eighth place at this year’s Top 50.
James and Elizabeth Winter opened the pub with nothing in mind but a simple, countryside boozer where locals could meet to have a pint and good meal after work.
Pipe and Glass Inn, South Dalton, East Yorkshire
This Yorkshire pub not only offers a range of meal options but also a massive wine list, which has won several awards – including the Estrella Damm’s Top 50 Gastropubs Wine List of the Year 2015.
Coming ninth on this year’s list, the Pipe and Glass is run by husband and wife team, James and Kate Mackenzie.
The Crown, Burchett’s Green, Berkshire
After making its debut on the Top 50 list last year and making it to number 10 this year, the Crown has gone from strength to strength, winning a Michelin star for chef-owner Simon Bonwick’s lavish cooking.
But, there is no doubt that this venue is still a pub with local ales and lagers adorning the bar and an extensive wine list, showcasing a range of independent producers from a variety of regions.
Masons Arms, Knowstone, Devon
A 13th-century thatched inn, the Masons Arms was awarded a Michelin star in 2006, which has been retained until today.
Husband and wife duo Mark and Sarah Dodson took on the pub in 2005 and it has since been named Michelin’s Pub of the Year 2011 and consistently ranking among the Top 50 Gastropubs list, coming in at number 15 this year.
Nut Tree, Murcott, Oxfordshire
This 15th-century inn has been awarded a Michelin star for nine years in a row and came in at number 31 on this year’s Top 50 list.
The Nut Tree is a traditional village pub, serving modern British food in the restaurant but is still somewhere to have a drink at the end of a long day, even serving its own Nut Tree ales.
The Royal Oak, Bray, Berkshire
Co-owned by broadcaster and national treasure Michael Parkinson – and his son Nick – the Royal Oak has picked up numerous awards since it opened in 2001 including its Michelin star and place number 45 on this year’s Top 50.
Although pictures of Parky interviewing some of his most famous guests line the walls, the Royal Oak has come out of the chat show host’s shadow to stand firmly on its own two feet.
Hind’s Head, Bray, Berkshire
Heston Blumenthal’s Michelin-starred 15th century pub serves a series of three, four and six-course menus.
The Hind’s Head has been serving the inhabitants and all manner of visitors since the 1400s, when it was first established as a hunting lodge and coaching inn.
Sir Charles Napier, Spriggs Alley, Oxfordshire
With two dining rooms, seating up to 24 or 46, the Sir Charles Napier was awarded its Michelin star in 2011.
The pub was one of 13 awarded a star for the first time in 2011, when Tom Kerridge’s the Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, won its second.
Red Lion Freehouse, East Chisenbury, Wiltshire
Michelin-starred pub with AA five gold star accommodation, the Red Lion is set on the edge of Salisbury Plain.
The prestigious Michelin Guide said the pub offers high-quality cooking, using top-quality ingredients, dishes with distinct flavours and carefully prepared to a consistently high standard.
The Cross at Kenilworth, Kenilworth, Warwickshire
The Cross is a Michelin-starred site serving excellent food, cooked by award-winning chefs.
After starting life as an inn back in the 19th century, it has recently been refurbished to reveal its original features.
The Black Swan at Oldstead, York, North Yorkshire
The Black Swan was named Travellers Choice Best Fine Dining Restaurant in the World 2017, according to TripAdvisor.
The pub was the first UK dining venue to top the world category of the annual Travellers' Choice TripAdvisor awards since their inception in 2012.
The Michelin Guide defines a pub as: “A combination of several things, including the ambience, drinks offer and catering for local drinkers.
“We don’t really have a set list of criteria, but we suspect most people know a pub when they step inside one.
“We have always focused on dining pubs with the hope that they remember their locals that just want a drink – to us, that makes the perfect pub.”