Which Restaurants Won and Lost Michelin Stars in 2025?

The coveted prize awarded to restaurants that produce exemplary cuisine, the Michelin star has become an icon of fine dining around the world. The first Michelin Guide was published at the turn of the 20th century. Produced by the company of the same name, the intention was to encourage French motorists to explore their country, sample good food and make ample use of their tyres.

The Michelin star was introduced in 1926, with a three-tier scoring system subsequently implemented. The descriptions haven’t changed since. “High-quality cooking – worth a stop,” is deserving of one star. “Excellent cooking – worth a detour” is worthy of two stars and “Exceptional cuisine – worth a special journey,” earns three-Michelin-star status. 

The UK Michelin Stars announcement

Yesterday Monday 10 February, the Michelin stars for the UK and Ireland were revealed. For the first time, the ceremony was held in Glasgow – at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. In an event that marked 125 years of the Michelin Guide, a host of new stars were unveiled along with several notable deletions.

In London, 12 restaurants received new stars. A wide spread of neighbourhoods was represented however, this skewed west. Caractère in Notting Hill now adds to a growing collection of stars in the locale including those of Dorian, The Ledbury and Core by Clare Smyth. Helmed by Emily Roux, Caractère’s win made for a proud moment for her father Michel Roux Junior – especially as the family closed the fine-dining institution Le Gavroche last year.

Owned by chef Kirk Haworth, Plates is another notable winner. This Shoreditch hotspot is the first vegan restaurant awarded a Michelin star. No stranger to a Michelin star, Mauro Colagreco launched three restaurants, his first in UK, less than 18 months ago within Raffles’ opulent new hotel at The Old War Office. Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London therefore represents a significant win. Also on the list is Dosa, the Korean chef’s table concept masterminded by Akira Back at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

Meanwhile in Borough market, chef Jorge Paredes and owner David Carter steered OMA to victory. The Greek restaurant scooped the Opening of the Year Award before becoming the first restaurant of the night to receive a Michelin star.

Beyond the capital, six restaurants in England were awarded one star including Forge at Middleton Lodge in North Yorkshire. In Ireland, Scotland and Wales, a further six restaurants – including two in Edinburgh – received a star.

Hide and Fox in Kent, Humble Chicken in London and the namesake restaurant at the capital’s iconic luxury hotel The Ritz are all two-Michelin-star outfits now. The rare three-star accreditation went only to Moor Hall in Augton, Lancashire. This outstanding restaurant with rooms also has a Michelin green star for sustainability. Set in a 16th-century Grade II-listed country house, the restaurant champions modern European cuisine and is helmed by Head Chef Mark Birchall. 

Newly-accredited one-star restaurants

London:

England:

Scotland and Wales:

Ireland:

Newly-accredited two-star restaurants

Newly-accredited three-star restaurants

Deletions

London:

England and Ireland:

An establishment can, of course, lose a Michelin star as well as win one. Reflecting a challenging landscape, six of the eight deletions are restaurants that closed down. It was certainly a mixed bag for chef-restauranter Jason Atherton whose Mayfair restaurant Row on 5 won a Michelin star, while his other restaurants Pollen Street Social (closed) and City Social both lost their star. Cornerstone is also a notable loss. Led by chef Tom Brown, it had a meteoric rise to fame having burst onto the fine-dining scene in Hackney in 2018. It then won a star in 2021 before closing last year. 

Nonetheless, the hospitality industry in the UK remains resilient. London is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world with a thriving network of passionate chefs and ambitious restauranteurs. Beyond, country manors, rural landscapes and provincial towns form a fitting backdrop for cuisine that increasingly champions seasonal, British produce.

The mysterious Michelin inspectors can now slowly get to work on sampling the country’s best dishes for next year’s guide. However, Michelin stars alone don’t define a restaurant’s success. Accolades aside, the UK is a stalwart of fine food where homegrown talent pairs with international expertise to produce a truly diverse dining scene.