Yahoo News Stephen Harris' restaurant The Sportsman is voted the UK's top regional restaurant
Chef proprietor and columnist for The Telegraph, Stephen Harris, has just had his restaurant, The Sportsman in Kent, named top of a list of the UK's best restaurants.
Website and restaurant guide SquareMeal.co.uk announced its annual list of the 100 best restaurants outside London, voted for by readers of the site and a selection of food bloggers.
On announcing the list, Ben McCormack, editor of SquareMeal said: "We're thrilled to give this award to Stephen Harris, a self-taught chef who has created something rare at The Sportsman: a UK restaurant that is uncompromisingly rooted in the ingredients of its local landscape."
"It's a very French idea that Harris has translated into something that couldn't be more British, a shabby-chic seaside pub with real ale on tap and daily menus chalked up on a blackboard. With its visionary cooking served without any fuss in comfortable, casual surroundings, The Sportsman represents everything that is most exciting about British restaurants at the moment."
Running close behind The Sportsman were Michelin-starred La Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxford ran by Raymond Blanc and The Fat Duck in Berkshire ran by gastronomy's mad scientist Heston Blumenthal.
The highest new entry at number nine was The Elephant in Torquay, which has been the proud holder of a Michelin star since 2004, the first restaurant in Torquay to be awarded the honour.
Of the 100 chosen, 26 were from the South East of England, which includes the winner, with the South West rising up the rankings from last year's list with three more of its restaurants selected.
Restaurants from London were excluded from the poll, allowing an opportunity for the regional dining scene to shine.
Speaking on the growing success of restaurants in the UK outside of London, McCormack said: “We've always had fine-dining outposts in country-house hotels, but what is really encouraging is that diners can now also eat well casually and cheaply.
"And the urban dining scene is exploding, with restaurant openings booming in cities such as Brighton, Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh.”
SquareMeal UK Top 100 Restaurants 2017
The Sportsman
Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
L’Enclume
The Fat Duck
The Hand and Flowers
The Waterside Inn
Midsummer House
Restaurant Nathan Outlaw
The Elephant
The Artichoke
Restaurant Sat Bains
Casamia
Fraiche
Sticky Walnut
Restaurant Mark Greenaway
Stovell’s
64 Degrees
Lake Road Kitchen
Raby Hunt
Y Polyn
Treby Arms
Andre Garrett at Cliveden
Gidleigh Park
Manchester House
Simpsons
Adam Reid at The French
The Kitchin
Forest Side
The Man Behind the Curtain
Restaurant James Sommerin
Orwells
Northcote
Craig Millar @ 16 West End
Alimentum
Read’s
The Hardwick
Restaurant Martin Wishart
Adam’s Restaurant
Walnut Tree Inn
Paul Ainsworth at No. 6
Freemasons at Wiswell
Bohemia
Le Champignon Sauvage
Restaurant Andrew Fairlie
Moor Hall
Three Chimneys
Hambleton Hall
Burnt Truffle
The Loft at the Bull
Castle Terrace
Purnell’s
Roger Hickman’s
Winteringham Fields
Sir Charles Napier
Salt Room
Little Fish Market
The Pig
Oli’s Thai
Bulrush
Mr Cooper’s House & Garden
Pompadour by Galvin
The Seahorse
The Lord Clyde
Rocksalt
Seafood Restaurant
The Star Inn
Norn
The Hinds Head
The Pointer at Brill
The Crown at Burchetts Green
Galvin Brasserie de Luxe
The Cross at Kenilworth
Ondine
Bourne Valley Inn
Benedict’s
Ben’s Cornish Kitchen
The Pony & Trap
Iberico World Tapas
The Art School
Ynshir
The Great House
The Black Swan at Oldstead
Morston Hall
The Coach
The Gardener’s Cottage
L’Ortolan
The Witchery by the Castle
Simon Radley at the Chester Grosvenor
Coombsehead Farm
The Peat Inn
Chapter One
The Clink Cardiff
Luscombe’s
The Dining Room at Chewton Glen
Turners at 69
The Whitebrook
Llangoed Hall
Hispi
Timberyard
El Gato Negra
