Simon Rogan’s Cumbrian restaurant, L’Enclume, has achieved the top spot in the Waitrose Good Food Guide 2014 for the very first time, it is revealed today, as the bestselling restaurant guide, purchased by Waitrose in August, publishes its annual ranking of the UK’s Top 50 restaurants.
L’Enclume and The Fast Duck – the only perfect scores
Restaurants in the Good Food Guide are awarded a cooking score out of ten, with L’Enclume achieving the top score for the second year in a row. In the number two spot is Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck, which has scored a perfect ten for six years in a row – longer than any other restaurant since the guide adopted its current scoring system in 1988. Currently, L’Enclume and The Fat Duck are the only two restaurants in the UK to achieve such a score.
Rogan as leader of the pack
Elizabeth Carter, Consultant Editor of the Good Food Guide, explains what makes L’Enclume so special: ‘After achieving the top score in last year’s Guide, Rogan and his team haven’t missed a beat, despite the pressures of the past year – from opening the French at the Midland Hotel in Manchester to overseeing a pop-up restaurant in London. Rogan rightfully takes his place as leader of the pack when it comes to modern British cooking. His fantastic way with seasonal ingredients from the Cumbrian land and coast brings dishes that are a joyful celebration of this county’s magnificent diversity. L’Enclume is truly deserving of the number one spot.’
Focus on both the food product and the customer
Simon Rogan, head chef at L’Enclume, comments on his success: ‘I’m so proud of my staff and this phenomenal achievement with The Good Food Guide. This is something we have always dreamed about. We have received this accolade because of our focus on both the food product and the customer – keeping it natural and fresh in the kitchen, and friendly but professional in the dining room. The development of the infrastructure behind the scenes has also been a key factor to our success as we are constantly evolving and improving what we have in place, and will continue to do so.’
All ten restaurants from 2013 retain Top 10 ranking
The Good Food Guide’s annual Top 50 restaurant ranking is highly regarded by chefs and restaurant-goers alike, with particular attention paid to those chefs and restaurants who make it into the Top 10.
The 2014 edition has seen all ten restaurants from 2013 hang on to their Top 10 ranking, with Cornish favourite Restaurant Nathan Outlaw rising to number three. Restaurant Sat Bains, in Nottinghamshire, and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London are at the number four and five respectively. Jason Atherton’s Pollen Street Social in London remains at number six. Hibiscus, The Square and The Ledbury, also in London, have risen to spots seven, eight and nine respectively. Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is ranked at number ten.
Cooking scores are between one and ten, and last year’s Top 50 ranking is shown in brackets. Full details of the top 10 restaurants, including cooking scores, are as follows:
- L’Enclume, Cartmel, Cumbria. Cooking score 10. (2)
- The Fat Duck, Bray, Berkshire. Cooking score 10. (1)
- Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Rock, Cornwall. Cooking score 9. (5)
- Restaurant Sat Bains, Nottingham. Cooking score 9. (3)
- Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London. Cooking score 9. (4)
- Pollen Street Social, London. Cooking score 9. (6)
- Hibiscus, London. Cooking score 8. (8)
- The Square, London. Cooking score 8. (9)
- The Ledbury, London. Cooking score 8. (10)
- Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Great Milton, Oxfordshire. Cooking score 8. (7)
About The Waitrose Good Food Guide
The Guide is the UK’s longest running, bestselling restaurant guide – the 2014 edition marks its 63rd year of publication. The Guide, now owned and published by Waitrose, includes independent reviews of the best dining establishments throughout the UK, from pubs and cafés to restaurants and fine dining. Waitrose Good Food Guide does not accept any sponsorship, advertisements or free hospitality.
Waitrose Good Food Guide 2014 publishes on 9 September 2013 priced at £17.99 and is available in all good bookshops and in Waitrose branches. See www.thegoodfoodguide.co.uk for details.