Harden's restaurant guide: London cleans up in prestigious top 100 list, though top spot won by Moor Hall

London restaurants make up more than a third in a new ranking of the 100 best in the country.

In a new list published by the restaurant guide Harden’s, 38 of the capital’s restaurants made up the top 100, with The Ledbury the highest at number four.

The top spot in 2025 was secured by Lancashire restaurant Moor Hall, which was opened by the chef Mark Birchall in 2017. Birchall has scooped numerous awards since then, including three Michelin stars.

L’Enclume, in Cumbria — and where Birchall trained under chef-patron Simon Rogan — came in at number two, while the Waterside Inn at Bray, a place under the stewardship of Alain Roux, was listed at number three.

Peter Harden, the editor of the guide, said: "Moor Hall has been a recurring name in the list for many years now — a testament to the high quality of the food, service and location.

“It’s wonderful to see Mark and his talented team reach this year’s pole position and, whilst diners who took part in our national survey did often flag the higher price point, it appears to be a venue regarded as well worth it, albeit for a rare treat.”

Mark Birchall (Press handout)

Birchall added: “I’m honoured that Moor Hall has been awarded the number one spot. This has already been a landmark year for us, and I’m delighted to see the team’s dedication recognised once again.

“Our success is driven by the talent, consistency and commitment of everyone who contributes to the experience at Moor Hall. It’s a wonderful acknowledgement of their hard work and passion, and we’re proud to share this achievement with everyone who dines with us.”

Harden also acknowledged the high number of new restaurants in this year’s ranking, including Row on 5 (fifth place), Jason Atherton’s newest venture in Mayfair.

The guide editor said it suggested the quality of new restaurants is better than ever.

Other London venues to feature high up in the list include Humble Chicken in Soho, Da Terra in Bethnal Green, and Behind in Hackney.

The latter, run by the chef Andy Beynon, is best known for earning the quickest Michelin star in British history, having been awarded one after only 20 days of service.

Beynon told the Standard: “It’s always nice to be acknowledged for the hard work we put in. This is a prestigious guide. Cooking for customers, and seeing them happy, is what it’s all about.”

Harden’s launched 35 years ago and has long been coveted by chefs and restaurateurs.

It’s one of only two surviving UK restaurant guides still made available in print and remains the only one based on feedback from everyday diners, with around 2,500 on the books.

Though there was much to celebrate this year, Harden noted a sharp increase in price rises across the industry, with London standing out for its numerous restaurants charging more than £250 per head.

Behind (Press handout)

Harden observed: “It’s understandable that over the last year the hospitality industry has been toiling away under a cloud of gloomsterism. Hit by food inflation, rising wages, relentless rent increases and soaring utilities – some long-term operators say that 2025 is the toughest year they can recall.

“However, what our survey results and data-crunching from across the sector shows is the remarkable resilience at work from those in the trade: our number of entries remains very steady and strong newcomers are emerging in each area of a quality that is probably better than ever.”

Harden added: “What is challenging for suppliers can be good for consumers. Customer expectations are so high now, restaurants have to work ever-harder to cut through and we’re seeing a number of new openings from across the UK going straight into the Top 100.

“This really is testament to the rigorous standards, hard work and innovation being put in by front and back of house teams throughout the nation who are impressively determined to find a way in difficult circumstances and continue to raise the bar to bring diners high quality experiences.”

The top 100 list in full

1. Moor Hall, Aughton
2. L’Enclume, Cartmel
3. Waterside Inn, Bray
4. The Ledbury, London
5. ROW on 5, London
6. Woven by Adam Smith at Coworth Park, Ascot
7. Humble Chicken, London
8. Outlaw’s New Road, Port Isaac
9. Da Terra, Town Hall Hotel, London
10. Skof, Manchester
11. Mana, Manchester
12. Albatross Death Cult, Birmingham
13. Northcote, Langho
14. Paul Ainsworth at No6, Padstow
15. Osip, Bruton
16. Meadowsweet, Holt
17. Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder
18. Behind, London
19. Roketsu, London
20. Opheem, Birmingham
21. Plates, London
22. The Angel, Hetton
23. Sollip, London
24. Gwen, Machynlleth
25. Core by Clare Smyth, London
26. The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant, Crieff
27. Kitchen Table, London
28. Myse, Hovingham
29. A Wong, London
30. Restaurant Sat Bains, Nottingham
31. The Black Swan, Oldstead
32. Paris House, Woburn
33. Winteringham Fields, Winteringham
34. Gidleigh Park, Chagford
35. Hambleton Hall, Hambleton
36. Restaurant Martin Wishart, Edinburgh
37. Morston Hall, Morston Holt
38. Pine, East Wallhouses
39. Akoko, London
40. AngloThai, London
41. Restaurant St. Barts, London
42. Trinity, London
43. Hunan, London
44. Caractère, London
45. Cornus, London
46. Ikoyi, London
47. Heft, Newton in Cartmel
48. Roots, York
49. Bohemia, Jersey
50. Kioku at the OWO, London
51. Lympstone Manor, Exmouth
52. Frog by Adam Handling, London
53. Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library, London
54. The Fat Duck, Bray
55. Aulis London, London
56. LPM (fka La Petite Maison), London
57. The Ritz, London
58. Sushi Tetsu, London
59. Edinbane Lodge, Edinbane
60. Alchemilla, Nottingham
61. Gravetye Manor, East Grinstead
62. Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms, Eglwys Fach
63. Grace & Savour, Hampton-in-Arden
64. Brooklands, London
65. Takahashi, London
66. Upstairs by Tom Shepherd, Lichfield
67. The Cedar Tree, Farlam Hall, Brampton
68. Cail Bruich, Glasgow
69. The Kitchin, Edinburgh
70. The Forest Side, Grasmere
71. Hide, London
72. Evelyn’s Table at The Blue Posts, London
73. SOLA, London
74. Trivet, London
75. Interlude, Lower Beeding
76. Home at Penarth, Penarth
77. Allium at Askham Hall, Penrith
78. The Tudor Room, Great Fosters Hotel, Egham
79. The Cocochine, London
80. The Dining Room, Whatley Manor, Easton Grey
81. Kai Mayfair, London
82. House of Tides, Newcastle upon Tyne
83. The Nut Tree Inn, Murcott
84. The Cottage In The Wood, Braithwaite
85. Nobu, Metropolitan Hotel, London
86. So-lo, Aughton
87. Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, Port Isaac
88. The Whitebrook, Restaurant with Rooms, Whitebrook
89. The Old Deanery, Ripon
90. Bar des Prés, London
91. Ormer Mayfair by Sofian, Flemings Mayfair Hotel, London
92. Old Stamp House, Ambleside
93. Number One, Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh
94. Artichoke, Amersham
95. The Jackdaw, Conwy
96. Furna, Brighton
97. Hakkasan Mayfair, London
98. Unalome by Graeme Cheevers, Glasgow
99. John’s House, Mountsorrel
100. The Royal Oak, Whatcote

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