
Six Cumbrian restaurants have been named among the best 100 in the UK in a prestigious new list.
SquareMeal’s UK Top 100 is the only list of its kind to exclude London’s restaurants – allowing venues outside of the capital to shine.
To appear in the list, each restaurant has to offer more than just a good meal. It has to provide guests with an exceptional all-around experience, from gorgeous interiors, and impeccable drinks lists, to exemplary service and sustainability.
At number 6 is L’Enclume, Simon Rogan’s flagship restaurant in Cartmel.
Heft, at High Newton, is listed at 18 – and is this year’s highest climber, jumping 54 spots from 72 last year.
Kevin and Nicola Tickle, co-owners of Heft, said: ‘’It’s always great being listed alongside your peers. It benchmarks where you’re at and helps you develop.
“Being listed in SquareMeal’s Top 100 UK restaurants again this year and being the highest-rising restaurant, this year recognises the level of work the entire team is putting into what we do day-in-day-out.
“We think that we’ve created something very special, balancing the needs of our regular pubgoers and that of our fine dining guests, and inclusion in this prestigious listing recognises everyone’s hard work.’’
The Forestside at Grasmere was 50 in the list, The Cedar Tree by Hrishikesh Desai at Farlam Hall Hotel in Brampton came in at 59 and Cottage in the Wood in Whinlatter, near Keswick, has been included in the list for the first time at 71.
Jack and Beth Bond, co-owners of The Cottage in the Wood, said: ‘’It’s always great being listed in lists like this. It helps you determine where you’re at and helps you develop further.
“Being listed in SquareMeal’s Top 100 UK restaurants for the first time is huge for us, it recognises the level of work the entire team is putting into The Cottage, this is a testament to their ability and the support they’ve given us since we took the plunge, took over the reins, and bought the restaurant with rooms.
“We’re in the process of creating something special, and inclusion in this prestigious listing is a testament to what we are hoping to achieve.’’
Henrock at Linthwaite House, Bowness was 83rd and Skof, in Manchester, run by Barrow-born Tom Barnes, was eighth.