Join our new WhatsApp channel: The Morning Round-Up
Get the biggest pub trade stories straight to your phone. Listen to our one-minute daily news briefing and receive breaking news, exclusives and sector updates throughout the day. Remember to turn notifications on in the top right corner!
Join the channel here.
The ceremony took place last night (Monday 8 June) at Magazine London, celebrating the diversity and brilliance of the UK’s dining scene, recognising the chefs and operators who shape it.
The Devonshire in Soho, London, which topped the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub list this year, was number 18 and retained the title of Gastropub of the Year while Fife’s the Kinneuchar Inn was number 35.
Furthermore, the Angel at Hetton was number 47, the Sportsman in Kent’s Seasalter was 58 and the French House, also in Soho was 61.
Andrew Pern-owned gastropub the Star Inn, Harome, North Yorkshire was this year’s number 78 and the Kerfield Arms, in Camberwell, which was awarded a Michelin star in February, was number 81.
Sector celebrations
The pubs on the top 100 restaurants list 2026:
18. The Devonshire, Soho, London
35. The Kinneuchar Inn, Leven, Fife
47. The Angel at Hetton, Hetton, North Yorkshire
58. The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent
61. The French House, Soho, London
78. The Star Inn, Harome, North Yorkshire
81. The Kerfield Arms, Camberwell, south London
Bouchon Racine in Clerkenwell, London, which is the celebrated dining room about the Three Compasses pub in Farringdon took the top spot this year, after being on the list since its opening in 2022 and up from number five last year.
The venue is led by chef and restaurateur Henry Harris, who alongside business partner Dave Strauss, has earned widespread acclaim for his French cooking, warm hospitality and unwavering sense of charm, with dishes inspired by the bouchons of Lyon and classic Parisian bistros.
Editor of Restaurant, The Morning Advertiser’s sister title, which organises the awards, Stefan Chomka said: “French cuisine has topped the list again in 2026 but this time round, it is the cosy and homely Bouchon Racine rather than the glamour of The Ritz that has taken the top spot.
“Not only is Bouchon Racine utterly charming but it is also without doubt serving some of the best traditional French food in the country and its victory this year once again demonstrates that you don’t need a vast team or a huge budget to be named the best.
“Henry Harris’ food is sensational with flavour put before anything else. This is more than just a bistro – it is a temple to great gastronomy and is well deserving of this year’s top spot.”
Special awards
This year’s second place was a first for the awards with two restaurants taking the spot – Osip in Buton, Somerset (number eight in 2025) and The Ritz in Mayfair, London (last year’s number one).
There were 29 new entries this year including Dara Klein’s Tiella, Teal by Sally Abé, Tollington’s, Winsome and Bavette while Legado was this year’s Highest New Entry.
Other awards presented on the night featured Restaurateur of the Year 2026, which went to Adam Byatt as well as Simon Rogan taking home Outstanding Industry Contribution while Shwen Shwen’s Maria Bradford was named Trailblazer of the Year and Meedu Saad of Impala was the One to Watch.
More than half (55) the venues on the list were from the capital, demonstrating London’s continued strength of its restaurant scene.
The full list of the UK’s Top 100 Restaurants can be found on the National Restaurant Awards website.
