Stars tend to disappear due to closure, chef departures or format changes rather than a decline in standards.
Pandemic impact
Most recently, The Bridge Arms in Kent fell out of the Michelin starred list in the 2026 Guide following a change in leaseholder and a shift towards a more casual menu.
Dan and Natasha Smith handed over the site in August 2025, with the new team relaunching the pub with a fresh direction focused on seasonal Kentish produce. The venue had secured its star less than a year after the Smiths took it on in 2021.
Another example is The Pony & Trap in Chew Magna. The acclaimed gastropub, led by chef Josh Eggleton, closed during the Covid pandemic and subsequently lost its star.
After an extensive refurbishment, the site reopened in 2024 as The Pony Chew Valley, repositioned under a new restaurant-focused concept.
Chef-driven models have also played a significant role in past changes. The Crown at Burchetts Green, formerly run by Simon Bonwick, is no longer Michelin-starred following his departure in 2021.
Similarly, The Blackbird near Newbury lost its star when chef Dom Robinson closed the pub to relaunch it as a fine dining restaurant, Renaissant. The Sir Charles Napier in Oxfordshire also dropped out of the guide after losing its star in 2017.
In some cases, pubs have fallen out of the starred list following guide reassessments. The Flitch of Bacon in Little Dunmow was among venues removed from the Michelin star category in the 2021 guide, while it subsequently appeared in the guide with a Michelin Plate, indicating very good cooking but without a star.
Chefs and concepts
The pattern underlines how closely Michelin recognition in pubs is often tied to individual chefs and clearly defined concepts. Ownership changes, repositioning or temporary closure can quickly alter a venue’s standing in the guide.
Against that backdrop, the current crop of Michelin-starred pubs appears relatively stable. All retained their status in the most recent guide, with a new addition for 2026 – The Kerfield Arms in London - bringing renewed attention to the sector.
For operators, the history suggests that while a star can transform a pub’s profile, maintaining it often depends as much on continuity and strategic clarity as it does on culinary excellence.
For a full list and interactive map of pubs with Michelin stars and Bib Gourmands, click here.
