Diners quit the capital for best cuisine

An increasing number of areas across the UK are becoming culinary hotspots, according to a guide published today.

There was a time when London was seen as the only place to head for genuinely fine cuisine.

But the latest edition of The Good Food Guide has found a large number of restaurants in other parts of the UK which stand out for the quality of their cooking.

However, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay helped ensure that London remained the culinary capital.

The eatery in Chelsea which bears his name was named the UK Restaurant of the Year by the guide.

It was also the only restaurant in the book to get a full 10 marks fits cooking.
Three restaurants, all outside London, received nine marks.

They are: the Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire; Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, Great Milton, Oxfordshire; and Winteringham Fields, Winteringham, North Lincolnshire.
There are 10 restaurants in the guide awarded eight marks - six outside the capital.

The London establishments given eight marks are: The Capital, Pied-a-Terre, Square, and Tom Aikens.

Meanwhile, the six elsewhere in England are: Le Champignon Sauvage, Cheltenham; Gidleigh Park, Chagford, Devon; Hibiscus, Ludlow, Shropshire; Merchant House, also in Ludlow; Vineyard at Stockcross, Stockcross, Berkshire; and the Waterside Inn, Bray, Berkshire.

Andrew Turvil, editor of The Good Food Guide 2005, said: "Some of the most creative and imaginative cooking in the UK is taking place outside of London.

"The capital is not about to lose its position at the culinary vanguard, but it is great to see such good things happening all over the country, sometimes in unexpected locations.

"Anybody who thinks London is the be-all-and-end-all needs to expand their horizons."

Three restaurants in Scotland were given seven marks for their cooking: Andrew Fairlie at the famous Gleneagles hotel; The Creel, St Margaret's Hope, Orkney Islands; and Restaurant Martin Wishart, Edinburgh.

Two restaurants in Wales also got seven marks: Tyddyn Llan, Llandrillo; and Ynyshir Hall, Eglwysfach.