Two pubs gain Michelin Stars with none lost

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Heavenly offer: the Angel at Hetton has gained a Michelin star

The 2020 edition of The Michelin Guide has given two gastropubs Michelin stars, bringing the total of star-holding sites to 19.

Both the Angel in Hetton, North Yorkshire, and the Royal Oak in Whatcote, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, have each gained one Michelin star.

This brings the total number of gastropubs with stars to 19, with the list now encompassing:

  • The Hand & Flowers (two stars), Marlow, Buckinghamshire
  • The Harwood Arms, Fulham, south-west London
  • The Nut Tree Inn, Murcott, Oxfordshire
  • The Blackbird, Newbury, Berkshire
  • The Coach, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
  • The Cross, Kenilworth, Warwickshire
  • The Crown, Maidenhead, Berkshire
  • The Fordwich Arms, Canterbury, Kent
  • The Masons Arms, Knowstone, Devon
  • The Pipe & Glass Inn, South Dalton, East Yorkshire
  • The Pony & Trap, Chew Magna, Somerset
  • The Red Lion Freehouse, East Chisenbury, Wiltshire
  • The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent
  • The Star Inn, Harome, North Yorkshire
  • The Walnut Tree Inn, Abergavenny, Wales
  • Tim Allen’s Flitch of Bacon, Little Dunmow, Essex
  • The White Swan at Fence, Lancashire
  • The Angel at Hetton, North Yorkshire
  • The Royal Oak, Whatcote, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire

Following the reveal, international director of the Michelin guides Gwendal Poullennec said: “Despite the obvious challenges being faced by the industry here in the UK, we are thrilled that this has been such a stellar year, and we have seen many first ventures opening and rapidly rising to success.”

Of the new pubs in the guide, Poullennec added: “It is pleasing to see an increasing number of restaurants run by couples, with six of our new ‘stars’ run by husband and wife teams.

“These include the picture-perfect Royal Oak pub at Whatcote; modest little Stark in Broadstairs, which seats just 10 guests; the Angel in Hetton, which is now under the leadership of experienced owner Michael Wignall; and Laurie Gear’s Artichoke in Amersham.”

The number of star-holding pubs on the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list has, as a result, also increased.

Now 12 of the Top 50 Gastropubs on the list hold Michelin stars.