A Lake District restaurant has been included in the prestigious Michelin Guide three months after it opened its doors for the first time.
The Schelly in Ambleside, is run by brothers Ryan and Craig Blackburn, the team behind the Old Stamp House.
The Michelin Guide said: ‘’Ambleside, a delightful little town in the Lake District, has always been a lovely place to visit – but now you have extra incentive thanks to this second venture by Ryan and Craig Blackburn.
“They already run the Michelin starred Old Stamp House and now they’re delighting visitors and locals alike with a simpler offering of sensibly priced small plates, with each one still providing bags of flavour.’’
Across the UK there are currently only 1148 restaurants listed in the Guide, 824 with a listing, among them is The Schelly, 123 restaurants with a Bib Gourmand, 165 holding one star, 27 with two stars and nine with three Michelin stars.
The Michelin Guide reporting on The Schelly remarks: ‘’A delightful operation from the team behind Old Stamp House just a minute’s walk away, this deservedly busy restaurant is named after a local fish found in only four nearby lakes.
“It’s indicative of the distinctly Lakeland feel to the menu, which is epitomised by the presence of lip-smacking Herdwick hogget shoulder plus a dish of mushrooms found around the woods in Ambleside. Sit at the counter to see the chefs or by the window to people-watch the tourists passing by. The sticky toffee madeleines cooked to order ensure you’ll leave on a sugary high.’’
Head chef Dan Hopkins along with chef-owner Ryan make a point of cooking with fresh seasonal produce.
Ryan said: ‘’Being included in the Michelin Guide is unexpected, especially after we only opened the doors three months ago. Head chef Dan, my brother Craig and the rest of the team have just tried to do our best to bring the restaurant to life and I guess that’s paid off.
“We couldn’t be prouder of everyone who 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.
“Achieving this recognition reflects the hard work, dedication, and passion of every single member of the team working at The Schelly since we opened our doors in August.’’
Cumbria Crack visited The Schelly earlier this year – here’s what we thought
