So, what is a MICHELIN Green Star?
The Green Star was introduced to the MICHELIN Guide Great Britain & Ireland in January 2021. It highlights restaurants at the forefront of the industry when it comes to their sustainable practices. These restaurants offer dining experiences that combine culinary excellence with outstanding eco-friendly commitments, and are a source of inspiration both for keen foodies and the hospitality industry as a whole.
What kind of things do Green Star restaurants do?
Every Green Star restaurant is different and works in its own unique way – but all make a difference to the world around them and act as role models to us all. Many work directly with growers, farmers and fishermen; forage in hedgerows and woodlands; grow plants and rear animals; and use regenerative methods such as no-dig vegetable gardens and successional cover crop growing. They also often go beyond environmental considerations to address issues related to ethics and wellbeing, as well as contributing to local, national or global charitable and educational projects.
What are the MICHELIN Inspectors looking for when they award a Green Star?
There is no specific formula for awarding a Green Star, as every restaurant and its surrounding region has a unique set of conditions. The Inspectors are simply looking for those at the top of their game when it comes to their sustainable practices. They consider things such as: the provenance of the ingredients; the use of seasonal produce; the restaurant’s environmental footprint; food waste systems; general waste disposal and recycling; resource management; and the communication between the team and the guests about the restaurant’s sustainable approach.
2023 sees the addition of four new Green Star awards to the MICHELIN Guide Great Britain & Ireland. Each of these worthy winners offers something a little different when it comes to their practices, but they are all united by their passion and innovation when it comes to offering ways to dine out sustainably.
APRICITY, London
Apricity aims to connect its diners with small farmers and suppliers, and their menus celebrate vegetables, regeneratively farmed meats and sustainably caught fish from the British Isles. The room was created through a mixture of upcycling, repurposing and the use of sustainable materials, with consideration given to everything right down to the type of paint used. They also offer innovative zero waste cocktails – closing the loop between the kitchen and the bar – and low intervention, biodiverse wines from British winemakers.
CROCADON, St Mellion
Crocadon is a 120 acre farm featuring a market garden, a shop, a restaurant and a micro-brewery. Its approach to growing, farming and cooking focuses on a full-circle system that puts soil health and biodiversity first; any soil or animal treatments they use are natural – as are the cleaning agents used in the restaurant. The fixtures and fittings are made using waste materials and they even make all their own tableware and ceramics, including creating their own ash glazes.
CULTURE, Falmouth
When setting up CULTURE, sustainability was certainly to the fore: the team refurbished the old tables from the previous restaurant; their granite pass-top was quarried at a site less than 3 miles away; and their plates were made just down the street and then delivered by foot. They run their kitchen using only electric and induction, as well as charcoal produced by a forest management team. They also buy directly from farmers who focus on regenerative farming practices with minimal intervention, and educate their guests to help pave the way for local food heroes.
OSIP, Bruton
More than 80% of Osip’s menu is vegetarian and they promote a plant-based and largely self-sufficient philosophy, with much of the produce coming from their nearby plot where they grow fruit, veg and herbs, as well as flowers for the tables; any other produce is then sourced from within 50 miles from sustainable suppliers. Whatever arrives on the doorstep each morning is what you'll find on your plate that day, so the menu is a surprise – and any food waste is composted to fertilise their crops. Their wines are all low-intervention, biodynamic or organic.
Below is the full list of Green Star restaurants in the MICHELIN Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2023.
England
Angela's, Margate
Apricity, London – New
Black Swan, Oldstead
CHAPTERS, Hay-on-Wye
Coombeshead Farm, Lewannick
Crocadon, St Mellion – New
CULTURE, Falmouth – New
Daylesford Organic Farm, Daylesford
Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, a Belmond Hotel, Great Milton
(Click here to book a stay at this Michelin-recommended hotel)
L'Enclume, Cartmel
Marle, Heckfield
Moor Hall, Aughton
Oak, Bath
Osip, Bruton – New
Pensons, Tenbury Wells
Petersham Nurseries Café, London
Pine, East Wallhouses
Restaurant Sat Bains, Nottingham
Silo, London
Terroir Tapas, Bournemouth
The Dining Room, set within the Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa, Malmesbury
(Click here to book a stay at this Michelin-recommended hotel)
The Ethicurean, Wrington
The Small Holding, Kilndown
Tillingham, Peasmarsh
Where The Light Gets In, Stockport
Wilsons, Bristol
Scotland
Inver, Strachur
Wales
Henry Robertson, set within the Palé Hall hotel, Llandderfel
(Click here to book a stay at this Michelin-recommended hotel)
Republic of Ireland
Kai, Galway
Click here for the quick links to the full online listings for all Michelin Green Stars in the UK/Republic of Ireland or download the free MICHELIN Guide iOS/Android app.
All New Stars & Awards
The Full List of Bib Gourmands
The Full List of Michelin Stars
