- Michelin revealed its Great Britain & Ireland 2026 guide earlier this week with a ceremony in Dublin. Two restaurants were afforded two-star status - Bonheur by Matt Abé and Jason Atherton and Spencer Metzger’s Row on 5 - while 20 new one stars were handed out, including to nine restaurants in the capital, such as Nieves Barragán Mohacho’s Legado, Ambassadors Clubhouse, Michael Caines at The Stafford, Corenucopia by Clare Smyth, and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High.
- Sally Abé has announced she is taking over the former Sesta site in Hackney for her debut solo venture. Teal by Sally Abé will open in March in partnership with co-owner Abe Drewry. Named after Abé’s favourite game bird, the restaurant is described as a little British bistro and will offer mains such as haunch of deer with pickled walnuts and cavolo nero; and Cornish mussels, Jersey Royals, cauliflower and sea kale, followed by desserts such as a raspberry marshmallow teacake. According to Abé, the opening has been 20 years in the making.
- Comedian and online personality Uncle Roger also announced his new restaurant opening, Kawan by Uncle Roger. Located in Chinatown on Macclesfield Street, the restaurant is a collaboration between Uncle Roger – the comic creation of Nigel Ng – and restaurateur Keng Yew, co-founder of Chinatown restaurants YiQi, SanHao, Dozo and The Eight. The kitchen will be led by Malaysian chef Daren Liew, offering Asian flavours and techniques interpreted through a modern British lens. The name Kawan means ‘friend’ or ‘companion’ in Malay, a nod to the restaurant’s focus on sharing plates and sociable dining.
- Orrery in Marylebone will reopen this spring as Orrery by Pierre Minotti following a refurbishment. Owner The Evolv Collection has appointed Pierre Minotti as executive chef in a bid to regain the restaurant’s Michelin star. Minotti most recently led the two-Michelin-starred Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal and has previously worked at two-Michelin-starred Hélène Darroze at The Connaught as junior sous chef, three-starred Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester as demi chef de partie, and at three-starred Anne-Sophie Pic in Valence, where he was a commis chef.
- Michelin confirmed the restaurants that have lost their stars in the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026. With the majority being down to closures or upcoming closures, the deletions mean that the little red book now contains fewer two-Michelin-starred restaurants than in the previous year due to the closure of London restaurants Claude Bosi at Bibendum and La Dame de Pic and the temporary closure of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire. In London, Humo lost its star following the departure of its founding chef-patron Miller Prada last year and so has Club Gascon following its announcement that it will close later this month after nearly three decades.