A total of 20 new restaurants in the UK and Ireland have been awarded Bib Gourmand status in the new 2023 Michelin Guide, including seven in the South West.
Michelin describes the Bib Gourmand as “Not quite a star, but most definitely not a consolation prize, the Bib Gourmand – named after Bibendum, the friendly Michelin Man and the official company mascot for the Michelin Group – is a just-as-esteemed rating that recognises friendly establishments that serve good food at moderate prices.”
Bristol saw three new additions to the iconic Guide. Marmo, an “on-trend osteria-cum-wine-bar offering Italian dishes, accompanied by organic and biodynamic wines”, was promoted. While The Blaise Inn joined the selection. This traditional village pub serves British classics with a modern twist and “some terrific desserts”. Also, entering the guide from Bristol, COR, which “positions itself somewhere between a tapas bar and a buzzy restaurant and offers some great charcuterie and cheeses.”
In Somerset, The Chequers in Bath, Root Wells, in Wells, and the Queen of Cups in Glastonbury all feature in the Guide for the first time.
The Chequers is situated in Bath’s Georgian terraces and offers traditional pub dishes and plates with more international flavours. The former pub, the Queen of Cups, is now a deliciously different restaurant serving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern small plates. Root Wells offers vegetable-led small plates, enjoyed with views of the Cathedral.
There are two new Bib Gourmand additions in Devon. Emilia in Ashburton refers to the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, which influences the food in this former bank where the classic osteria dishes are chalked up on the door of the old vault and change daily. The Gallery in Topsham, according to Michelin, “provides a similarly cheery, welcoming feel, and its rustic interior and appealing menu are the perfect fit for this delightful town”.
Two new Michelin One-Star restaurants from the South West were added to the Guide this year: Àclèaf, in Plymouth and Lumiére, in Cheltenham. The former is a “cosy, intimate restaurant which sits under wooden beams within the former minstrels’ gallery” of the impressive Boringdon Hall Hotel. Michelin praises “Prime seasonal ingredients feature in exciting modern dishes which are refined yet restrained and demonstrate great attention to detail. The European flavours are knowledgeably balanced, and the sauces and desserts are a particular highlight.”
Lumière is situated in the centre of Cheltenham and is run by a husband and wife-team. They serve food cooked from a solid “classical base, with some fine details running through his dishes. Flavours are well-judged and harmonious and…sauces are especially memorable. Many of the vegetables, herbs and edible flowers come from their own 15-acre smallholding.”
The South West also gained two new Green Star Restaurants including Osip, in Bruton, Somerset. This thriving market town has a strong farm-to-table ethos under forward-thinking chef Merlin Labron-Johnson. Michelin says, “The set surprise menu is mostly plant-based, with almost all of the produce home-grown or locally sourced. Dishes are harmonious, with bold natural flavours and an effortlessly assured elegance. Wine pairings are organic and biodynamic.”
On the Green Star, Merlin said: “As a team, we are taking multiple steps to become a more sustainable restaurant and lower our impact on the environment. We never use single-use plastics within the restaurant. We have a strong focus on becoming self-sufficient, growing our own produce across our organic farm and garden.”
CULTURE in Falmouth is a modern British-style restaurant based around an open kitchen in an old quayside warehouse. The owner Hylton Espey said: ”For us, there has always been a connection to nature and food. The menu is continually driven by ingredients, seasons and nature and not the other way around. It will be through educating our guests that will help pave the way for local food heroes, sustainable farming and amazing flavours.”
