Three Cumbrian restaurants have joined the elite of fine dining as the 2023 Michelin stars are revealed.
Heft, in Newton, near Cartmel, the Pentonbridge Inn, in Penton, near Carlisle and the Samling at Windermere, have been handed the prestigious accolade.
It means that Cumbria now has 10 one Michelin star restaurants and one three Michelin star restaurant.
Kevin and Nicola Tickle run Heft. The couple said: “Being awarded a Michelin star is totally unexpected, we’ve just tried to do our best to bring a village pub back to life and put it back at the heart of the community that surrounds it.
“We really didn’t think we would be in the running this year, we really can’t describe what this means to us both, especially with all that’s been thrown at us in the last couple of years. We couldn’t be prouder of everyone that works with us; for us this is a real team effort.
“We’ve taken our time and hopefully the work we’ve put in has helped build a solid foundation for the future. Heft is about our surroundings and our sense of belonging to this place. The food we create and serve reflects our passion for the place we are lucky enough to call home.’’
Chris Archer, head chef at Pentonbridge Inn, said: “As a chef, it’s something that you hope and dream about for your entire career and it’s down to the dedication and hard work of the whole team that we have achieved it together at Pentonbridge.
“The quality of the food and drink in Cumbria has made it a must-visit destination for people across the UK and beyond and it makes me very proud that Pentonbridge is now included alongside the other Michelin starred restaurants in the county.”
Chris has been head chef at Pentonbridge Inn for four years and honed his modern British style of cooking through working at Michelin-starred and AA Rosette restaurants across the UK including Winteringham Fields, Midsummer House and The Cottage in the Wood, near Keswick, where he took on his first head chef role in 2014.
The front-of-house team at Pentonbridge Inn is led by general manager Ross Bell, with the restaurant-with-rooms owned by Gerald and Margo Smith, who also operate luxury self-catering cottages and apartments at Netherby Hall.
“I’m delighted for the whole team who work so hard to deliver an exceptional service for every one of our guests.”
Holding their Michelin stars for 2023 are:
- The Forest Side, Grasmere
- Allium at Askham Hall, Askham
- Cottage in the Wood, Whinlatter
- The Old Stamp House, Ambleside
- Dog & Gun, Skelton
- Source (formerly Hrisihi), Windermere
- Rogan & Co, Cartmel
Ryan Blackburn, of the Old Stamphouse, said: “We’re thrilled that we have retained our Michelin star for the fourth year running. The whole team constantly strives to deliver a truly memorable experience to each and every customer through the door and this recognition is testament to their hard work and dedication.
“All of us are so proud of what we have achieved in the last few years, but as ever we won’t stop trying to push that little bit harder. Finally I’d like to thank the farmers and producers we work with who deliver consistently excellent produce, the team for doing what they do and our customers for appreciating what we do.’’
Source at the Gilpin Hotel in Windermere has kept its Michelin star and owners Zoe and Barney Cunliffe said they were delighted.
Executive chef Ollie Bridgwater joined the hotel from the Fat Duck in Bray, where he was sous chef alongside Heston Blumenthal for almost a decade.
Ollie said: “There’s a lot of history at Gilpin, it’s a very special place, so it’s a big responsibility as we reshape Source in the coming months and years.
“For any chef, earning a Michelin star is the ultimate recognition. It’s what we’re all striving to achieve throughout our careers, so for the team and I to have retained one star at Source under the new name is just fantastic. A huge thanks to the team both in the kitchen and out front, this gives us a real boost and reassures us that we’re on the right track. We now have an unbelievably strong foundation to build upon.”
L’Enclume in Cartmel, run by Simon Rogan, is the county’s only three star restaurant.
L’Enclume received its first Michelin star in 2005 and its second star in 2013, and a Michelin Green Star awarded in 2021. The restaurant also holds the number one spot in the UK Good Food Guide and a score of 10/10, and five AA Rosettes.
Simon Rogan said: ‘’We’ve been on an amazing journey since we first opened our doors in Cartmel in 2002. I’m over the moon that L’Enclume and Rogan & Co have retained their respective stars and that’s down to our teams’ hard work and dedication, but above all their passion for what they do day to day.
“I want to thank the growers on Our Farm, the front and back of house teams in our restaurants, to the apprentice chefs in the Simon Rogan Academy, to the producers who supply us with such incredible ingredients, and the customers who take the trouble to visit our corner of the Lakes.
“I’d also like to congratulate everyone who has attained a Michelin star or Michelin green star for the first time this year. You are part of the future of UK hospitality – well done and enjoy your journey, you never know where it may lead you.’’
