A British gastropub has become the first ever to receive two Michelin stars.
The Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, was awarded two stars in the latest edition of the prestigious restaurant guide, launched today.
The pub – which opened in 2005 and was awarded its first Michelin star less than a year later – has shunned traditional pub snacks such as pork scratchings and crisps in favour of roast veal sweetbread, truffled pork terrine and roast hog with salt baked potatoes.
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Michelin Guide editor Rebecca Burr said: ''At the Hand & Flowers, [the] cooking has risen to new heights. Dishes are sophisticated yet familiar and are a perfect match for the relaxed surroundings of [a] charming pub.''
Chef Tom Kerridge, who owns the pub with his wife, previously worked at Adlards in Norwich, which has one Michelin star, and Monsieur Max in Hampton which also had one star.
The Observer newspaper ran a review of the Hand & Flowers in August that spoke admiringly of the food but lamented the presence of some particularly obnoxious customers.
A total of 13 British pubs were awarded Michelin stars this year, and three – the Sir Charles Napier in Chinnor, Oxfordshire, the Butchers Arms in Eldersfield, Gloucestershire, and the Black Swan in Oldstead, North Yorkshire – won them for the first time.
Michelin guides are published in over a dozen countries, and the first ever guide was published in 1900.
One star indicates a "very good cuisine in its category", two stars represent "excellent cuisine, worth a detour," and three stars are awarded to establishments that offer "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey".
