Lancashire restaurant tops list of UK's 100 best restaurants

The Grade II listed restaurant with rooms, in Aughton, Lancashire, is overseen by chef-patron Mark Birchall and has built a strong reputation for its modern British cuisine using, where possible, produce grown on the five-acre estate.

It was bought by Andy and Tracey Bell in 2015 and underwent a multi-million pound renovation before reopening in 2017. Last year the restaurant was awarded two Michelin stars.

“Mark is an incredibly talented chef who has a clear ambition to not just create one of the best restaurants in the UK but in the world,” says Stefan Chomka, editor of Restaurant magazine, which runs the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards.

“This award reflects that vision. Moor Hall is an almost immaculate experience – Mark’s food is clever and inventive but also delicious, the service is exceptional and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. It’s an outstanding restaurant that deserves its title as the best in the UK.”

Moor Hall’s victory sees the top spot return to a restaurant outside of the capital.

In total, 46 of the top 100 restaurants are located outside of London.

This year also sees the highest number of northern restaurants placed than ever before, with 23 northern and Scottish restaurants on the list.

Sixth place is in Cumbria with Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume with Forest Side in Grasmere in Cumbria also making the top 20.

Mana in Manchester was placed number 73 on the list.

‘National Restaurant Month’ will run from today until July 10 with many restaurants listed running special offers for diners booking through the website.

The Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards is Restaurant Magazine’s annual countdown of the top 100 restaurants in the UK as voted for by the UK’s leading chefs, restaurateurs and food writers.

The wait is over. This year’s number one is Mark Birchall’s @restmoorhall As anyone that’s visited will tell you this is a restaurant run by a chef at the very top of his game. Congratulations to Mark and his team @EstrellaDammUK #NationalRestaurantAwards https://t.co/TMy09hcoYR pic.twitter.com/wwfrtMv17s

— The National Restaurant Awards (@The_NRAs) June 10, 2019

The full list of winners at the National Restaurant Awards are (north west restaurants highlighted in bold):

1. Moor Hall, Aughton in Lancashire

2. Brat

3. Cornerstone

4. Core by Clare Smyth

5. Sabor

6. L’Enclume, Cartmel in Cumbria

7. Mere

8. Claude Bosi at Bibendum

9. Ynyshir

10. The Ledbury

11. A Wong

12. The River Café

13. The Sportsman

14. Restaurant Sat Bains

15. Kiln

16. Paul Ainsworth at No. 6

17. Lyle’s

18. Forest Side, Grasmere in Cumbria

19. Casamia

20. House of Tides

21. Restaurant Nathan Outlaw

22. Roganic

23. The French House

24. Elystan Street

25. The Ritz

26. Frenchie

27. Brawn

28. Noble Rot

29. The Black Swan at Oldstead

30. The Fordwich Arms

31. Chez Bruce

32. Hide

33. Ikoyi

34. Trinity

35. The Crown at Burchett’s Green

36. The Coach

37. The Hand & Flowers

38. The Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland in Lancashire

39. Freemasons at Wiswell, Clitheroe in Lancashire

40. Skosh

41. The Elephant

42. Roots

43. The Clove Club

44. The Frog by Adam Handling

45. Roux at Parliament Square

46. Burlington at The Devonshire Arms

47. Cora Pearl

48. Hicce

49. Ondine

50. The Quality Chop House

51. Black Axe Mangal

52. Pollen Street Social

53. Whatley Manor

54. Coombeshead Farm

55. St. John

56. The Angel Inn at Hetton

57. The Dairy

58. The Fat Duck

59. The Palomar

60. Helene Darozze at The Connaught

61. Kym’s

62. Social Eating House

63. The Kitchin

64. Bright

65. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

66. Etch

67. Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons

68. Timberyard

69. Midsummer House

70. Rochelle Canteen

71. Two Lights

72. 40 Maltby Street

73. Mana, Ancoats in Manchester

74. The Walnut Tree

75. Indian Accent

76. Kitchen Table by Bubbledogs

77. Yügo

78. Restaurant Story

79. The Little Chartroom

80. The Laughing Heart

81. The Mash Inn

82. Raby Hunt

83. Restaurant Andrew Fairlie

84. The Woodspeen

85. Wine and Brine

86. Holborn Dining Room

87. The Harwood Arms

88. Brigadiers

89. Perilla

90. The Little Fish Market

91. The Man Behind the Curtain

92. Carters of Moseley

93. Darjeeling Express

94. Joro

95. Le Cochon Aveugle

96. The White Swan at Fence in Lancashire

97. Spring

98. Holbeck Ghyll, Windermere in Cumbria

99. Trullo

100. The Ninth

You can read more on the restaurants in the top 100 by clicking here