Gloucestershire Michelin Star restaurants

Find out which Gloucestershire restaurants have been awarded Michelin Stars in 2008 with our guide to the county’s crème de la crème cuisine, including Gloucestershire’s well-priced Bib Gourmand restaurants.

Restaurateurs across the country were either jumping for joy, breathing sighs of relief or were downright depressed when this year’s Michelin Stars were officially awarded in the Michelin Guide to Great Britain & Ireland 2008.

The renowned guide to the country’s top restaurants and hotels, published on Friday 25 January 2008, recognised a number of Gloucestershire restaurants and the Michelin Star news in particular was likely to be heralded by the popping of champagne, and commiseration with something a little stronger, by a selection of restaurant owners across the county this year.

Restaurants with three Michelin Stars in Gloucestershire

The Michelin Guide to Great Britain & Ireland 2008 says that three Michelin Stars indicates ‘exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.’ This year only three restaurants in the UK were awarded three Stars – including Gordon Ramsay in London, as well as the Fat Duck and the Waterside Inn in Bray-on-Thames – and, unfortunately, you have to travel outside of Gloucestershire to experience any of these three-starred restaurants.

Restaurants with two Michelin Stars in Gloucestershire

The Michelin Guide to Great Britain & Ireland 2008 says two Michelin Stars indicates ‘excellent cooking, worth a detour’. This year 12 restaurants in the UK and Ireland were awarded two Stars – including Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham, which has retained its two-star rating once again this year.

Le Champignon Sauvage has remained one of Cheltenham’s finest restaurants since it was opened in 1987 by chef David Everitt-Matthias and his wife Helen. Serving modern French food made from the finest ingredients, Le Champignon Sauvage has become both a favourite with Gloucestershire foodies, as well as gastronomes travelling to the county especially to dine at the renowned restaurant in the Suffolks area of town.

The Michelin Guide 2008 describes Le Champignon Sauvage as a: ‘Professionally run restaurant, stylishly decorated’ as well as adding: ‘confident, accomplished cooking uses excellent produce; some original touches.’

See Le Champignon Sauvage for more information.

Restaurants with one Michelin Star in Gloucestershire

The Michelin Guide to Great Britain & Ireland 2008 says one Michelin Star indicates ‘a very good restaurant in its category’. This year 107 restaurants in the UK and Ireland were awarded one Star – including 5 North St in Winchcombe, near Cheltenham, which retained its one-star rating again this year.

5 North Street, owned and run by chef Marcus Ashenford and his wife Kate, has become a destination restaurant since first opening its doors in 2003. The good value menu of refined modern British and European dishes has ensured that the cosy village restaurant has remained a popular choice both for locals and for those from further afield.

The Michelin Guide 2008 describes 5 North Street as a: ‘Personally run, cosy, 17th century timbered restaurant with low-beamed ceiling and a pleasantly relaxed, friendly atmosphere.’

See 5 North Street for more information.

Owners of the Michelin Star restaurant The Trouble House, Sarah and Michael Bedford, left the Tetbury restaurant in 2007 to concentrate on the opening of their new delicatessen and café, The Chef’s Table, and with them went the restaurant’s Michelin Star in 2008. Despite being unstarred this year, however, the guide describes The Trouble House as: ‘A country haven’ where ‘robust, hearty classics are cooked with care using fine local ingredients’.

See The Trouble House for more information

Bib Gourmand Restaurants in Gloucestershire

As well as awarding the famous Michelin Stars, since 1997 the Michelin guides read by more than one million people a year has also given Bib Gourmand recognition for establishments offering ‘good food at moderate prices’. At these establishments diners can enjoy three quality courses for less than £28, and there were three restaurants recognised by the Bib Gourmand icon in Gloucestershire in 2008.

The Churchill Arms in Paxford, near Chipping Camden, has been run by husband and wife Sonya Kidney and Leo Brooke-Little since 1997. Serving a menu of very reasonably priced British dishes, made from quality local ingredients, has meant the pub has gained a great reputation and has become a sought-out attraction to the village. The Michelin Guide 2008 describes The Churchill Arms as a: ‘Popular Cotswold stone and brick pub’ with ‘good value meals chalked on the blackboard’. See The Churchill Arms for more information.

The Old Butchers in Stow-on-the-Wold is, as the name would suggest, a former village butcher’s shop which has been transformed into a modern and bustling restaurant benefiting from a well-priced and accomplished menu. The Michelin Guide 2008 says: ‘Daily changing, affordable, modish menus feature prominent use of local produce.’ See The Old Butchers for more information.

The Gumstool Inn in Tetbury is Calcot Manor hotel’s gastropub offering which is run under the watchful eye of chef-director Michael Croft. Serving modern European dishes in hearty portions with an imaginative flair, The Gumstool is popular with food-lovers as much as real ale connoisseurs. The Michelin Guide 2008 describes The Gumstool Inn as a: ‘Cheerful, flagstoned pub’ with ‘large menus with daily blackboard specials.’ See The Gumstool Inn for more information.

SoGlos.com
25 January 2008