01-10-2012
Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2013
The Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2013 will be available in bookshops from Friday 5 October 2012, priced at £14.99 (€16.99 in Ireland).
This year’s guide sees three restaurants promoted from one to two Michelin stars. Sketch, in Mayfair, opened in 2002 and received its first Michelin star in 2005; L’Enclume, in Cartmel also opened in 2002 and was awarded its first Michelin star three years later; while Michael Wignall at the Latymer, Bagshot, opened in 2007 and won its first Michelin star in 2009.
Editor, Rebecca Burr said: “These are three equally worthy recipients of our two star award but each restaurant is very different in nature. Michael Wignall’s cooking offers a distinct sense of sophistication, Jean Denis Le Bras at Sketch has a much more ambitious style, while Simon Rogan’s cooking has steadily evolved and is now much more aligned with nature.”
Eighteen restaurants have been awarded one Michelin star. The furthest north is James Close’s Raby Hunt in Summerhouse, Darlington, while the furthest south is Paul Ainsworth at No.6 in Padstow, Cornwall. There are eight new one star establishments in London.
“I am very pleased to reveal that there are two further pubs included in this year’s star awards”, commented Burr. Heston Blumenthal’s Hinds Head in Bray, and Guy and Britt Manning’s Red Lion Freehouse in East Chisenbury have received this distinction. “This suggests that the trend for British pubs acknowledging diners as well as drinkers, and striving to raise their standards of cooking, is continuing to move in a positive direction.
“There are also two one star additions in Ireland – Locks Brasserie in Dublin and Aniar in Galway. Like the pubs, these two offer fairly simple surroundings and focus their attention where it really matters: on excellent quality food”.
There are 39 new Bib Gourmands, 11 of which are in London. The Bib Gourmand recognises restaurants offering particularly good value for money – the current limit being £28 for three courses (€40 in Ireland).
“In difficult financial times, establishments awarded a Bib Gourmand have been a real hit with our readers, proving that providing good value for money doesn’t have to mean compromising standards”, concluded Burr.
In total, 346 restaurants and 138 hotels have been added to the guide this year; the ‘New’ (N) symbol has been introduced to highlight these establishments.
Also published on Friday is the Michelin Guide London 2013, priced at £10.99 (€12.99 in Ireland). This provides extended text on London’s restaurants, with additional photographs and information on all starred establishments. It also includes a selection of London’s best hotels, across all categories of comfort.
Les Mirabelles 
General notes :
Context : As a couple
Ratings details
Les Mirabelles is a lovely little gem of a restaurant in the New Forest. You are greeted by friendly hosts before being presented with a multitude of gastronomic choices. The standard menu is very good but the specials boards (which are in French, but translated for the locals) are outstanding. Our particular favourites are the French Onion Soup or the pigs trotters with foie gras in filo pastry (we were initially unsure but after being convinced by the proprietor they were delicious). For the main course, any of the steaks are excellent although the game birds are equally as good. For those that do not like red meat, my wife recommends the fish dishes. The deserts look lovely but I have never managed to turn down the fantastic cheese board which must have at least thirty cheeses to choose from. To accompany the food is a very extensive wine list at very reasonable prices.
Nothing