Ten restaurants in the UK and Ireland disappeared from The Michelin Guide at the 2026 awards after losing stars or closing down.
The Guide, recognising some of the world’s best food spots, announced this year’s honours at a ceremony in Dublin yesterday and although dozens of chefs and restaurateurs welcomed the results, it was bad luck for others.
Among those to lose the coveted star is The Bridge Arms in Kent, which first claimed the accolade ten months after it opened in 2021.
The original gastropub owners, Dan and Natasha Smith, passed the baton to Elliot Smith and Michelin star chef David Gadd last summer, who relaunched the venue with a more casual menu.
In Mayfair, London, the wood-fired restaurant Humo suffered the same fate and lost its Michelin star – following the departure of executive chef Miller Prada in January.
The restaurant, which opened in 2023, combines seasonal British produce with Japanese cooking techniques, and offers a six-course dining experience menu for £160 per person.
The other eight restaurants which disappeared from the guide have closed down amid a challenging climate for the hospitality industry with rising business rates and Rachel Reeves’ national insurance hike, which has pushed up staff costs.
Wood fired restaurant Humo in London dropped its star in the 2026 guide. Pictured is Humo’s Head Sommelier
The Bridge Arms in Kent, serving a seasonal menu with pub classics, was among the restaurants dropping a star this year
Claude Bossi’s formerly two-starred restaurant at Bibendum, South Kensington shocked fans with news of its closure in August last year following a disagreement with the landlord, The Caterer reported.
In a statement released on Instagram at the time, Bossi and his wife Lucy wrote: ‘Despite our very best efforts, we were unable to reach a resolution with our partners and landlords that would allow Michelin House to move into its next chapter.’
The chef, who continues to work in Josephine in London’s Chelsea and Marylebone, added: ‘We are deeply grateful for the incredible support show to us over the years. It has been an honour to be party of Michelin House story.’
Other restaurants that lost Michelin star include London’s Dosa by Akira Back, Five Files, and Club Gascon, as well as Hexham’s Hjem and Crocadon in St Mellion.
Meanwhile, winners of the coveted award include Clare Smyth’s Corenucopia, serving British classics, Ambassadors Clubhouse in Mayfair, the Punjabi-focused sister restaurant to Gymkhana, and Tom Brown’s at the Capital hotel in Knightsbridge.
Elsewhere in the UK, Fifty Two Rudding Park in Harrogate scooped a star, which has no menu, and like a dinner party, diners place their faith in the cooking skills of the host. Prices range up to £190 per person for 10 servings and five drink pairings.
Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling in Newquay also claimed a star, thanks to its hyper-seasonal and hyper-local £120 tasting menu, including Cornish hen, mushroom dumpling, peppercorn and Lobster wagyu with Umai caviar.
Fifty Two in Rudding Park, Harrogate, which serves an assortment of plates leading up to the main event, scooped a star in this year’s Michelin Guide
The Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling in Newquay made the list. Pictured is the restaurant’s signature bread and chicken butter
The world-famous Michelin Guide last year received a Gen Z makeover to rid itself of its stuffy image as it sought to stay relevant in an age of food influencers.
The guide can traditionally see venues awarded up to three of the prestigious stars – and can make or break reputations.
But while it was once arguably the only review that mattered to top chefs, the guide – first founded in the early 1900s to help motorists know where to dine – is now suffering from fierce competition.
The rise of food influencers and online reviewers can now send restaurants viral almost immediately – offering a boost to local cuisines that can see long queues form overnight.
As well as promoting previously unknown finds, the online world also offers diners a world of choice at often far lower prices than any Michelin-starred restaurant.
The Michelin Guide has now had to bring itself up to date to stay relevant to diners in the UK and around the world, who are increasingly focused on eating out but less interested in fine dining.
It comes amid a controversial history which has seen a range of famous chefs renounce their stars due to the ‘pressure’ which comes with them.
Most famously, Marco Pierre White renounced his three Michelin stars in 1999 so he could spend more time with his family.
As part of its makeover, the Michelin Guide has now brought in a new star to appear to younger generations and environmentally conscious foodies, known as the green star.
The award is given to those be at the forefront of their field when it comes to sustainability.
The guide has also begun operating in more countries than ever before, with another 20, including India, on the cards for the organisation to send its reviewers to.
