It was the restaurant world’s Oscars this week (Mon 9 Feb) as the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland handed out its constellation of Michelin stars at the Convention Centre in Dublin. Michelin inspectors certainly weren’t dishing out multiple stars like sweets in the culinary playground. Just two restaurants joined the echelons of two-star establishments and they’re both in the Big Smoke – Bonheur by Matt Abé and Row on 5, a collaboration between celebrated chefs Jason Atherton and Spencer Metzger. They follow in the footsteps of Bucks Oxon’s most local two Michelin star fine dining spot: Tom Kerridge’s The Hand & Flowers in Marlow.

Row on 5 London two Michelin stars — Row on 5, Savile Row

20 new restaurants were awarded new one Michelin star awards – but you’ll have to head out of our local area if you fancy finding out what all the foodie fuss is about. Handily nine of the one-star newbies are in London, so you don’t have too far to trek for best-in-class cuisine.

Drumroll, please, for Ambassadors Clubhouse a hotspot for northern Indian delights, Labombe by Trivet, which specialises in sharing plates cooked over fire and Corenucopia by Clare Smyth, a luxe bistro that goes big on potato dishes (we’re sold). The Kerfield Arms became London’s second one Michelin-starred pub after The Harwood Arms and Spanish chef Nieves Barragán Mohacho added to her star tally with her new Shoreditch outpost, Legado.

Other big name chefs popping corks in the city were Michael Caines, who brought star quality up from Devon to Michael Caines at The Stafford, and Gordon Ramsey for Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, which is also officially Europe’s highest restaurant. Seafood’s the star-worthy catch of the day at Tom Brown at The Capital and there was a star for innovative Korean-French fusion at Somssi by Jihun Kim at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel too.

Michael Caines at The Stafford Michelin star — Michael Caines at The Stafford

Across other Muddy counties, Scotland scored a rural duo with 1887 on the banks of Upper Loch Torridon and Killiecrankie House on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park both added to the one-star brigade. Yorkshire lived up to its ‘larder of England’ rep with new stars for the theatrical Fifty Two in Harrogate and JÖRO, a modern marvel in a 19th-century former mill near Sheffield. West Mids saw stars too; raise a toast for The Boat in Lichfield and The Wilderness in Birmingham. Down south, Hove’s Maré by Rafael Cagali impressed the Michelin inspectors, as did Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling on Fistral Beach in Newquay.

Killiecrankie House Michelin star — Killiecrankie House, photo by Alexander Baxter

The foodie footprint remained largely the same in the home counties, with Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire’s finest eateries proving they’ve still got it (see below). However, we have two new Bib Gourmand restaurants to boast about this year. The Yurt at Nicolsons in North Aston brought it home for Oxfordshire and Muddy fave The Oarsman in Marlow picked up a Bib for Bucks. They were among the 37 new restaurants given the 2026 Bib Gourmand stamp of approval for quality food at a reasonable price.

The Yurt Nicolsons Michelin Bib Gourmand — The Yurt at Nicolsons

Scan this year’s Michelin Guide for the full roll call of recommended restaurants and discover or revisit the 2026 gastronomic greats near you below – they’re the hottest tables in town.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE MICHELIN STARS

The Hand & Flowers, Marlow ★★

Marlow marvel Tom Kerridge’s first pub opened in 2005 and received its first Michelin star a year later, the first ever pub to receive the accolade in the UK. The Hand & Flowers focuses on simple, quality ingredients, but don’t be fooled. Its second Michelin star followed in 2012 and there’s no sign of that changing any time soon.

Artichoke, Amersham ★

This fine dining hotspot, sandwiched between two boutiques in central Amersham (one of which is Whistles so that’s extra points from us), was awarded a Michelin star in 2019 and has retained it every year since. Raymond Blanc MBE is a massive fan and so are we. Perhaps we’ll spot him down there more often now that Le Manoir is having a reno?

The Coach, Marlow ★

Tom Kerridge’s second Marlow pub made it into the Michelin Guide in 2017 and, now over ten years old, it’s still going strong with its selection of groovy tapas-style dishes and small plates. The Coach is compact and relaxed, with many seats facing the open kitchen, which only adds to its charm.

The Oarsman, Marlow – new Bib Gourmand for 2026

A grown-up bistro with a cracking wine list and menu chocker with big, inventive flavours and seasonal ingredients cooked up by head chef Scott Smith and his very slick team. The Mon – Thurs midweek set lunch menu changes weekly and is a steal at £22 for two courses and £26.50 for three; expect sophisticated dishes like lemon sole with sauce vierge and roasted artichokes. The flower-decked terrace makes for the perfect post-work hideaway just off the high street during the warmer months too.

The Three Oaks, Gerrards Cross – Bib Gourmand

This elegant gastropub serves fantastic food with impeccable presentation – definitely worth the trip round the winding South Bucks countryside to find it. There’s a neat courtyard outside for summer months.

Also mentioned in the Michelin Guide:

The Greyhound, Beaconsfield
Roux at Skindles, Taplow
The Butchers Tap & Grill, Marlow
The Pilgrim, North Marston

OXFORDSHIRE MICHELIN STARS

The Nut Tree, Murcott ★

The charming traditional thatched pub/restaurant near Bicester has retained its one-star status for a cool 18 years now since 2008, running with its refined menu that champions British produce. Respect.

The Yurt at Nicolsons, North Aston – new Bib Gourmand for 2026

This isn’t your average garden centre grub. Take a seat amid the clambering greenery and twinkling lights of this rustic yurt and you’ll be treated to a locally grown produce given a Mediterranean spin by head chef Andrew Carr. I’ve enjoyed a fair few lingering afternoons here and it’s a culinary escape that feels akin to a minibreak; service is welcoming and relaxed and dishes are colourful and creative but never overcomplicated. They rustle up an excellent brunch from Tues – Sat too; the smashed avocado on “croast” (toasted croissant) makes for a decadent upgrade to the Millennial staple.

Also mentioned in the Michelin Guide:

The Golden Ball, Henley-on-Thames
Wild, Burford
The Bull, Charlbury
The Bell, Charlbury
The Chandlers Arms, Epwell
Orwells, Binfield Heath
Five Little Pigs, Wallingford
The Swan Inn, Islip
Sir Charles Napier, Sprigg’s Alley
Arbequina, Oxford
Pompette, Oxford
The White Hart, Fyfield
The Killingworth Castle, Wooton
The Lamb Inn, Crawley
The Bell Inn, Langford
The Wild Rabbit, Kingham
The Lamb Inn, Little Milton
The Nest, Woodstock
The Ball & Ball, Cuddesdon
The Three Tuns, Henley-on-Thames
The Duck on the Pond, South Newington

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE MICHELIN STARS

The Hand & Flowers, Marlow ★★

Artichoke, Amersham ★

The Coach, Marlow ★

The Oarsman, Marlow – new Bib Gourmand for 2026

The Three Oaks, Gerrards Cross – Bib Gourmand

Also mentioned in the Michelin Guide:

OXFORDSHIRE MICHELIN STARS

The Nut Tree, Murcott ★

The Yurt at Nicolsons, North Aston – new Bib Gourmand for 2026

Also mentioned in the Michelin Guide:

HUNGRY FOR MORE?

The stars are out: Meet Michelin 2026’s local award winners

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