Michelin boost for restaurants

Two top restaurants are celebrating after retaining their place in the Michelin Guide to Great Britain and Ireland.

The Bath Priory in Weston and Colerne’s luxury Lucknam Park have held on to their single star status in the 2009 edition of the guide.

Bath pub-restaurants The Marlborough Tavern and The White Hart also get honourable mentions in the guide.

The Wheatsheaf at Combe Hay was awarded rising star status in last year’s edition and scored a listing in this year’s Red pub section of the guide, which is reserved for businesses serving good food in a pleasant surrounding.

The Priory has now kept a star in the guide for 10 years and general manager Sue Williams said she was delighted.

“This is a reflection of the hard work from the team here and the quality of both the cuisine and service.”

She said it was an exciting time for the Priory as it looked forward to working with new executive head chef Michael Caines.

Lucknam Park officially opened its £12 million spa complex in November last year after 18 months of work.

The spa area connects to a bar, lounge area and a brasserie restaurant.

Managing director Harry Murray said he was delighted to see the hotel retain its Michelin star for another 12 months and put the success down to the work of head chef Hywel Jones and his team.

Mr Murray said: “We never take it for granted and I’m delighted for Hywel and his team.

“He never stops trying to improve and one of his strengths is his suppliers.”

Mr Jones uses local suppliers and now has a tradition of inviting them to dinner after the announcement of the star.

Mr Murray also congratulated Bath Priory and Whatley Manor near Malmesbury, which was awarded two stars in this year’s guide.

He said: “From a public point of view it gives them a lot to choose from and that is healthy for this area from an inspirational point of view.

“In our case we will now be focusing on getting two stars.”

Guide editor Derek Bulmer said 2009 would bring challenging times for hotels and restaurants.

He said: “I am hopeful that the hospitality industry will prove to be resilient and that customers continue to support their local pub or restaurant and that dining out will remain part of our lives.”

The Manor House hotel and golf course at Castle Combe also received a star in this year’s guide.