Harden’s Guide 2026: Moor Hall named UK’s best

Moor Hall in Aughton, Lancashire has been voted the UK’s best restaurant in the 35th year of the carefully curated annual Harden's Top 100 Best UK Restaurants diners’ poll.

It follows the restaurant winning three Michelin stars earlier this year.

Just pipping Simon Rogan’s 2024 winner L’Enclume and Alain Roux’s Waterside Inn in Bray to the top spot, Mark Birchall’s revamped Grade II 13th century manor house just a short drive north of Liverpool rose to the top of the list from last year’s position of 74.

Feedback from diners hailed it as “not just a meal, it’s an experience” and one that is “superb from beginning to end”. Practically all reports acknowledge the food as “faultless in every way” and “all simply pitch perfect”.

Industry reaction

Peter Harden, guide editor and co-founder of Harden’s, commented: "Moor Hall has been a recurring name in the Harden’s Top 100 UK Restaurant’s list for many years now – a testament to the high quality of the food, service and location.

“It’s wonderful to see Mark and his talented team reach this year’s pole position and, whilst diners who took part in our national survey did often flag the higher price point, it appears to be a venue regarded as well worth it, albeit for a rare treat.”

Chef patron of Moor Hall, Mark Birchall, added: “I’m honoured that Moor Hall has been awarded the number one spot in this year’s Harden’s Top 100 UK Restaurants list.

“This has already been a landmark year for us, and I’m delighted to see the team’s dedication recognised once again.

“Our success is driven by the talent, consistency and commitment of everyone who contributes to the experience at Moor Hall.

“It’s a wonderful acknowledgement of their hard work and passion, and we’re proud to share this achievement with everyone who dines with us.”

Chef Simon Rogan — Simon Rogan's L'Enclume came in second place

Context: A guide shaped by diners

The latest edition of the Harden’s guide is available from £20 and is based on feedback from regular diners, as opposed to professional inspectors.

Restaurants at all price levels are included, from street food vendors to the country’s finest dining rooms.

Led by Moor Hall and L’Enclume, the north west has the most inclusions in the guide, with 149 venues, including 12 in the top 100.

Price trends and the state of the sector

In contrast to the pattern of recent years, when restaurants outside London have led the charge in terms of price rises, the situation has reversed this year with London standing out for top-end price rises with a sharp jump in the number of restaurants charging £250+ per head (up from 14 to 24 establishments).

This increase has seen London surge ahead for the number of restaurants falling into the most expensive price bracket, probably reflecting the relative robustness of the power to spend in the capital compared with elsewhere in the country.

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Reflecting on the last 12 months, Peter Harden said: “It’s understandable that over the last year the hospitality industry has been toiling away under a cloud of gloomsterism. Hit by food inflation, rising wages, relentless rent increases and soaring utilities – some long-term operators say that 2025 is the toughest year they can recall.

“However, what our survey results and data-crunching from across the sector shows is the remarkable resilience at work from those in the trade: our number of entries remains very steady and strong newcomers are emerging in each area of a quality that is probably better than ever.

“What

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is challenging for suppliers can be good for consumers. Customer expectations are so high now, restaurants have to work ever harder to cut through and we’re seeing a number of new openings from across the UK going straight into the Top 100.

“This really is testament to the rigorous standards, hard work and innovation being put in by front and back of house teams throughout the nation who are impressively determined to find a way in difficult circumstances and continue to raise the bar to bring diners high quality experiences.”

The Top 10

The top 10 also includes Waterside Inn (Bray), The Ledbury (London), Row on 5 (London), Woven by Adam Smith (Ascot), Humble Chicken (London), Outlaw’s New Road (Port Isaac), Da Terra (London) and Skof (Manchester).

Harden's UK Top 100 restaurants

1 Moor Hall, Aughton
2 L’Enclume, Cartmel
3 Waterside Inn, Bray
4 The Ledbury, London
5 ROW on 5, London

6 Woven by Adam Smith at Coworth Park, Ascot
7 Humble Chicken, London
8 Outlaw’s New Road, Port Isaac
9 Da Terra, Town Hall Hotel, London
10 Skof, Manchester
11 Mana, Manchester
12 Albatross Death Cult, Birmingham
13 Northcote, Langho
14 Paul Ainsworth at No6, Padstow
15 Osip, Bruton
16 Meadowsweet, Holt
17 Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder
18 Behind, London
19 Roketsu, London
20 Opheem, Birmingham

21 Plates, London
22 The Angel, Hetton
23 Sollip, London

24 Gwen, Machynlleth
25 Core by Clare Smyth, London
26 The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant, Crieff
27 Kitchen Table, London
28 Myse, Hovingham
29 A Wong, London
30 Restaurant Sat Bains, Nottingham
31 The Black Swan, Oldstead

32 Paris House, Woburn
33 Winteringham Fields, Winteringham
34 Gidleigh Park, Chagford
35 Hambleton Hall, Hambleton
36 " target="_blank">Restaurant Martin Wishart, Edinburgh

37 Morston Hall, Morston Holt
38 Pine, East Wallhouses
39 Akoko, London
40 AngloThai, London
41 Restaurant St. Barts, London
42 Trinity, London
43 Hunan, London
44 Caractère, London
45 Cornus, London
46 Ikoyi, London
47 Heft, Newton in Cartmel
48 Roots, York
49 Bohemia, Jersey
50 Kioku at the OWO, London
51 Lympstone Manor, Exmouth
52 Frog by Adam Handling, London
53 Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library, London
54 The Fat Duck, Bray

55 Aulis London, London
56 LPM (La Petite Maison), London
57 The Ritz, London
58 Sushi Tetsu, London
59 Edinbane Lodge, Edinbane
60 Alchemilla, Nottingham
61 Gravetye Manor, East Grinstead
62 Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms, Eglwys Fach

63 Grace & Savour, Hampton-in-Arden
64 Brooklands, London
65 Takahashi, London
66 Upstairs by Tom Shepherd, Lichfield
67 The Cedar Tree, Farlam Hall, Brampton
68 Cail Bruich, Glasgow
69 The Kitchin, Edinburgh
70 The Forest Side, Grasmere
71 Hide, London

72 Evelyn’s Table at The Blue Posts, London
73 SOLA, London
74 Trivet, London
75 Interlude, Lower Beeding
76 Home at Penarth, Penarth
77 Allium at Askham Hall, Penrith
78 The Tudor Room, Great Fosters Hotel, Egham
79 The Cocochine, London
80 The Dining Room, Whatley Manor, Easton Grey
81 Kai Mayfair, London
82 House of Tides, Newcastle upon Tyne
83 The Nut Tree Inn, Murcott
84 The Cottage In The Wood, Braithwaite
85 Nobu, Metropolitan Hotel, London
86 So-lo, Aughton
87 Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, Port Isaac
88 The Whitebrook, Whitebrook
89 The Old Deanery, Ripon
90 Bar des Prés, London
91 Ormer Mayfair by Sofian, Flemings Mayfair Hotel, London
92 Old Stamp House, Ambleside
93 Number One, Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh
94 Artichoke, Amersham
95 The Jackdaw, Conwy
96 Furna, Brighton
97 Hakkasan Mayfair, London

98 Unalome by Graeme Cheevers, Glasgow
99 John’s House, Mountsorrel
100 The Royal Oak, Whatcote

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