Britain's 100 best restaurants are revealed - check if your eatery makes the list

A Michelin starred eatery serving French cuisine influenced by seasonal Scottish ingredients has been crowned the UK's best restaurant.

Andrew Fairlie in Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland was this year's number one in Harden's Top 100 UK Restaurants guide.

Ratings and reviews in the guide, which is now in its 32nd year, are based on 30,000 reports from 3,000 diners.

Evelyn's Table at the Blue Posts in London - an intimate 12-seater counter dining experience - was ranked second in the list while the Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire, Alain Roux's famous Thameside fine dining establishment, came third.

Head chef Stephen McLaughlin and general manager Dale Dewsbury have been leading the winning restaurant, Andrew Fairlie since the death of its namesake and founder Andrew Fairlie in 2019.

Andrew Fairlie serves French cuisine influenced by seasonal Scottish ingredients (GLENEAGLES)

The restaurant won its first Michelin star within one year of opening in 2002 and received its second in 2006.

It serves French cuisine influenced by seasonal Scottish ingredients, including shellfish in the winter months to vegetables, herbs and fruit grown in the restaurant's own walled garden in the summer.

Diners taking part in the poll said visiting Andrew Fairlie was a "memory to be treasured" and praised its dishes prepared with "impeccable skill and creativity".

Mr McLaughlin told The Caterer: "This time four years ago, we were dealing with the terrible loss of our wonderful friend and mentor, Andrew Fairlie, and committed to maintain his incredible legacy.

"I'm extremely proud that we're here today achieving these fantastic accolades. People knew Andrew as a champion of great food and service, and this ethos remains the same."

Waterside Inn, founded by the late Michel Roux, came in third (Waterside Inn)

The south-east was crowned the strongest dining region, with Cornwall named as the county with the most Top 500 listings (18) after London.

Birmingham and Edinburgh both have three restaurants in the Top 100, while Edinburgh was the city with the most listings in the Top 500 (17), outside of London.

The top ten

1. Andrew Fairlie

The Andrew Fairlie in Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland, is located in a renowned golf club and offers a la carte and a 7-course tasting menu, prepared using seasonal luxurious ingredients. Diners said the restaurant was "well worth the money", "staff were attentive" and "especially knowledgeable in all respects."

The intimate Evelyn's Table at The Blue Posts in London came second (Evelyn’s Table)

2. Evelyn's Table at The Blue Posts

Diners praised this "very snug little basement venue for counter-top fine dining" in China Town, London for showing "levels of skill and technique to compete with much better-known places that leave you with a far higher bill". Head chef James Goodyear offers an evolving menu which focuses on British produce and is influenced by Scandinavian and Japanese techniques.

3. Waterside Inn

A bastion of haute cuisine on the Thames, Waterside Inn, in Bray, Berkshire, was founded by the late Michel Roux in 1972 and is now run by his son Alain. Reviewers described the restaurant as "Perfection... and in a perfect waterside location" and "stunning in every sense". The famous eatery once hosted the Queen.

Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire is now run by Michel Roux's son Alain (Waterside Inn)

Diners described the restaurant as 'stunning in every sense' (Waterside Inn)

4. Endo at the Rotunda

This stylish Japanese restaurant, headed up by renowned sushi chef Endo Kazutoshi, is housed on the top floor of the old BBC building in White City, London and offers fantastic views across the capital. Diners say "Endo blends theatre, passion and extraordinary ingredients" and describe the the quality of the food as "unparalleled".

5. The Kitchin

This "buzzy" warehouse in Leith, Edinburgh was Harden's most commented-on destination in its annual diners' poll. Visitors praise the "excellent fine dining" produced from a glass-walled kitchen where chefs create an "amazing food journey." There are tasting menus as well as a more conventional evening à la carte.

Japanese restaurant Endo at The Rotunda is headed up by renowned sushi chef Endo Kazutoshi (Hardens)

6. Core by Clare Smyth

This Notting Hill eatery, which opened five years ago, "deftly straddles that line between fine dining but not being stuffy," says one reviewer. Another says it's "the finest cooking without it being up-your-ar** mucked around, just with the beautiful presentation of seasonal ingredients". Owner Clare and head chef Jonny Bone always greet you says a third.

7. Adam Reid at The French

Located inside the Midland Hotel in Manchester, Adam Reid at the French "is worthy of a visit for Adam Reid's tasting menu food that fully delivers on the hit to the tastebuds", according to diners. "Its not all serious plates, with some playful dishes offering something a little different and intriguing" says one.

The Kitchen in Edinburgh was fifth in the list (The Kitchin)

8. L'Enclum

Simon Rogan's culinary, 3 Michelin star mecca in the Lake Disrict offers "17 courses of stunning food" with "exceptionally beautiful" flavours, using produce from Rogan's own farm. The team is "so well drilled it's like watching a ballet" and while the overall effect can seem “formal”, the “staff obviously enjoy working there”.

9. Maru

This June 2021 newcomer in Mayfair, London is led by chef Taiji Maruyama, who has worked at Nobu London and offers "top class dishes", say reviewers. Diners enjoy a "unique and intimate experience", with just six guests served at any time. MARU is the first Japanese restaurant in the UK to specialise in the Japanese culinary technique of dry ageing fish.

Visitors praised the 'excellent fine dining' at The Kitchin (The Kitchin)

10. Pine

Set in an old cow barn near Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, ingredients at Pine come from the kitchen garden or are foraged. Diners write of "sixteen courses of jewel-like complexity, with inventive (and delicious) combinations of flavours". Marina O’Loughlin from The Sunday Times declared it as “one of the UK’s most exciting new restaurants" earlier this month.

The top 100

1. Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles
2. Evelyn's Table at The Blue Posts, London
3. Waterside Inn, Bray
4. Endo at the Rotunda, London
5. The Kitchin, Edinburgh
6. Core by Clare Smyth, London
7. Adam Reid at The French, Manchester
8. L'Enclum, Cartmel
9. Maru, London
10. Pine, East Wallhouses
11. Da Terra, London
12. The Five Fields, London
13. Sorrel, Dorking
14. Restaurant Martin Wishart, Edinburgh
15. Hjem, Wall
16. La Manoir aux Quat' Saisons
17. Adam's, Birmingham
18. Plu, London
19. The Araki, London
20. Muse, London
21. Lumiere, Cheltenham
22. Estiatorios Milos, London
23. The Little Fish Market, Brighton
24. Lympstone Manor, Exmouth
25. Kitchen Table, London
26. Hambleton Hall, Oakham
27. The Forest Side, Grasmere
28. LPM, London
29. Paul Ainsworth at No.6, Padstow
30. Joro, Sheffield
31. The Little Chartroom, Edinburgh
32. Sola, London
33. The Art School, Liverpool
34. Anglo, London
35. Morston Hall, Morston
36. A Wong, London
37. Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms, Eglwys Fach
38. Meadowsweet, Holt
39. The Ledbury, London
40. Nobu, Metropolitan Hotel, London
41. Roots, York
42. Alchemilla, Nottingham
43. House of Tides, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
44. Outlaw's New Road, Port Isaac
45. Aulis at L'Enclume, Cartmel
46. Latymer, Pennyhill Park Hotel, Bagshot
47. Club Gascon, London
48. Chef's Table at TRUEfoods, Melmerby
49. Oxeye, London
50. Cail Bruich, Glasgow
51. Rocketsu, London
52. Cornerstone, London
53. Chez Bruce, London
54. SY23, Aberystwyth
55. Trinity, London
56. Aulis London, London
57. Robin Wylde, Lyme Regis
58. Bibendum, London
59. The Clove Club, London
60. Opheem, Birmingham
61. Bohemia, Jersey
62. Restaurant 22, Cambridge
63. Outlaw's Fish Kitchen, Port Isaac
64. The Angel, Hetton
65. The Black Swan, Oldstead
66. Frog by Adam Handling, London
67. Umu, London
68. Unalome by Graham Cheevers, Glasgow
69. La Gavroche, London
70. The Sportsman, Seasalter
71. Pied à Terre, London
72. Ekstedt at The Yard, Great Scotland Yard Hotel.
73. Mana, Manchester
74. The Sea, The Sea, London
75. Midsummer House, Cambridge
76. The Peat Inn, Cupar
77. Moor Hall, Aughton
78. The Whitebrook, Whitebrook
79. Old Stamp House, Ambleside
80. The Moorcock Inn, Sowerby Bridge
81. Lyle's, London
82. Sollip, London
83. Imperial Treasure, London
84. Gidleigh Park, Chagford
85. Behind, London
86. Elderflower, Lymington
87. Wilson's, Bristol
88. BiBi, London
89. Amaya, London
90. The Olive Tree, Queensbury Hotel, Bath
91. The Ritz, London
92. The Wilderness, Birmingham
93. Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library, London
94. Quilon, London
95. Kol, London
96. The Fat Duck, Bray
97. Myrtle, London
98. The Small Holding, Goudhurst
99. The Cellar, Anstruther
100. Fraiche, Oxton