There are few things more characteristically British than a pub. With the rise of the ‘gastro-pub’, fine dining doesn’t have to be a formal occasion any more. British pubs have brilliantly combined exceptional culinary standards with the laid back atmosphere of a traditional pub. Ahead of the 2015 Eating Out in Pubs guide, we thought it was time to take a closer look at the UK’s Michelin star pubs.
There are, at the time of writing, 18 Michelin star pubs in the UK:
The Hand & Flowers
Location: Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
Tom Kerridge’s Hand & Flowers is the only pub to be awarded two Michelin stars. The Buckinghamshire pub earned its first Michelin star within less than a year of opening in March 2005 followed by a second star in 2012.
The service is friendly and unpretentious while the food is an exquisite blend of British classics with French nouvelle cuisine.
The Black Swan
Location: Oldstead, North Yorkshire.

The Black Swan at Oldfield, surrounded by the glorious countryside of the North York Moors, was the only northern establishment to enter the 2012 Michelin guide.
The pub is owned and run by Tom and Anne Banks and their sons, James and Tommy work as restaurant manager and head chef. The décor is full of character and food can be eaten at the bar or on an outside table where you can fully appreciate the glorious Yorkshire landscape with a pint of the fabled local ale.
The Pipe and Glass Inn
Location: Beverley, East Yorkshire.

The Pipe and Glass Inn was East Yorkshire’s first Michelin star in 2010. The produce is locally sourced and unashamedly British.
James Mackenzie’s menu features such classics as ‘bubble and squeak’ and ‘potted pork’. The atmosphere is warm and inviting with generous portions and traditional wooden furniture.
The Walnut Tree Inn
Location: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire.
The Walnut Tree Inn has an illustrious history. From 1963-2001, it was successfully run by legendary chef Franco Taruschio.
The current head chef is Shaun Hill, who took over in 2008 and immediately restored the pub to Michelin star status. Hill’s food is an eclectic mix of various culinary influences and his menus change daily.
The Stagg Inn

Location: Kington, Herefordshire.
The Stagg Inn was the first pub to be awarded a Michelin star back in 2001. Steve Reynolds’ team grow their on fruit, vegetables and herbs as well as keeping hens and making sausages.
The menus are brief, full of local produce and change every two months. The pub is in a traditional Victorian setting in the Herefordshire heartland.
The Royal Oak
Location: Bray, Berkshire.
The Royal Oak is yet another reason for food-lovers to flock to Bray. Head chef, Michael Chapman, selects the best seasonal produce that, wherever possible, is sourced locally.
Michael’s food is designed not to be pretentious and embrace the flavours of the produce. Owned by Sir Michael Parkinson, the décor is cosy with lots of paintings and attractive wooden beams.
The Harwood Arms

Location: London
The Harwood Arms is the only Michelin-starred pub in the capital, after gaining recognition in the 2010 guide.
According to the Michelin guide, it is a “down-to-earth pub that just happens to serve really good food.” The menu is proudly British with an emphasis on seasonality while the bar is stocked with the finest British ales.
The Butchers Arms
Location: Eldersfield, Gloucestershire
The Butchers Arms is a rural 16th century pub run by husband and wife duo
James and Elizabeth Winter. The Michelin-starred menu is short and seasonal with ingredients sourced from local suppliers.
Everything from the bread to the ice cream is homemade and, as the pub only accommodates 25, there is a genuinely homely feel.
The Pony & Trap
Location: Chew Magna, Somerset

The Pony & Trap, awarded with a Michelin star in 2011, is one of Somerset’s finest culinary destinations. Run by the Eggleton family, the menus champion local suppliers