To business, it's something of an anti-climactic year for London (or next year will be - it's the 2015 Guide I guess...) with two fewer restaurants in the list overall. There are no changes at the top, with the two- and three-star joints untouched. In the one-star category, there are some hard falls. Nobu and its sister restaurant in Berkeley Square both lost their stars, which somewhat vindicates my review but is a surprise nonetheless.
Bo London, Tom Aikens and Viajante all closed, rendering their losses academic. Aikens is looking at re-locating out of Chelsea into somewhere more central which will be an interesting story to keep an eye on. Elsewhere, Medlar lost its star which I thought near-impossible but at least it should ensure their pricing remains gloriously competitive. Worryingly, One Leicester Street (which replaced the St John Hotel restaurant) and Aspley's by Heinz Beck also lost their stars. Even more worryingly, due to closures. I can't find evidence of these at the time of writing but it's dreadfully sad if so.
The good news, despite the eight losses, is there are six new stars to celebrate. Gymkhana, recently named the best restaurant in the country, is the most predictable of these, capping quite a first year. The Clove Club and Kitchen Table at Bubbledogs also see their high-ranking places on the list gaining official recognition. Jason Atherton's gradual spread across the capital sees a new star for City Social, while Claridges' decision to recruit Simon Rogan of L'Enclume to run their restaurant has paid swift dividends. I am personally pleased that Barrafina has got itself a star, though it's going to make getting a table even more difficult.
The full list of London's representation is below. Whilst awards don't always count for much, Michelin Stars usually give us all a steer on where to go when the occasion dictates...
Three Stars
| Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Mayfair |
| Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Chelsea |
Two Stars
One Star
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