Michelin awards stars go to Sportsman and Goose

Licensees at two pubs, in Kent and Oxfordshire, are celebrating the award of a coveted star in the Michelin Guide - Great Britain & Ireland 2008.

The Sportsman, in Sea-salter, Kent, and the Goose, in Britwell Salome, Oxon, join the select number of public houses that have taken the prestigious accolade.

Michelin judges selected the two pubs after anonymous visits last year flagged up their food as being of "very good" restaurant quality.

Two other pubs, the Nut Tree, in Murcott, Oxfordshire, and the Wheatsheaf, Combe Hay, near Bath, Somerset, can also expect to gain a Michelin star next year if their quality improves and current standards are maintained. They were named by the Guide as two "rising star" venues.

Ten other pubs have gained Bib Gourmand status, a secondary award indicating good quality cuisine at competitive prices.

Licensees at the Shepherd Neame brewery-owned Sportsman at Seasalter were cock-a-hoop at their success.

Brothers Stephen and Philip Harris have spent the past eight years building the reputation of the food at the isolated inn. The duo put their success down to remaining ambitious and insisting on locally-sourced produce.

"As a destination pub, we have no choice but to offer food which people will drive out for," said Stephen Harris.

Head chef at the Goose, Matthew Tomkinson, who only arrived at the pub last January after it lost its Michelin star, said the pub team was "over the moon".

"I cannot tell you how pleased we are - we didn't expect to be awarded a star this year," he said.

l For Gourmand list see website and next week's PubChef