Blumenthal London Eatery Named U.K.’s Best, Hix Soho for Drink
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in London was last night named the U.K.’s best restaurant in the Observer Food Monthly awards, just eight months after it opened.
Mark’s Bar, at Hix Soho in London, triumphed for best place to drink, while Koya, also in Soho, was best for cheap eats. The Sunday lunch award went to the Bull & Last in Kentish Town, London. Michel Roux Sr. took the lifetime achievement crown. Blumenthal, who also owns the Fat Duck in Bray, opened in the U.K. capital in February this year.
The awards were announced in a party at the London Film Museum. The event has become a main event over the past eight years for British restaurateurs, food producers and writers. Some of the winners are picked by readers of the Observer Food Monthly, others by a panel that includes chefs Jason Atherton, Sat Bains, Angela Hartnett and Thomasina Miers.
It’s the season for giving in the U.K. restaurant business. Zagat, AA Hospitality, Michelin and National Restaurant Awards have named their favorites in the past month. The London Restaurant Awards are on Oct. 17 and the Sunday Times Food List follows later in October.
Last night’s winners included:
Lifetime achievement: Michel Roux Senior Best restaurant: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal Food personality: Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall Best cookbook: “Plenty,” by Yotam Ottolenghi Best place to drink: Mark’s Bar, Hix, Soho Best producer: Johnny Pusztai at J.T. Beedham & Sons, Notts Best newcomer: Maltby Street, London Outstanding contribution: Tristram Stuart, author of “Waste” Young chef of the year: Paul Foster, Tuddenham Mill Best Sunday lunch: Bull & Last, Kentish Town, London Best food blog: Eat Like a Girl Best ethical restaurant: The Ethicurean, North Somerset Best independent local retailer: The Cheese Shed, Bovey Tracey Best cheap eats: Koya, London
(Richard Vines is the chief food critic for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. He is U.K. and Ireland chairman of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards. Opinions expressed are his own.)
To contact the writer on the story: Richard Vines in London at rvines@bloomberg.net or Richardvines on http://twitter.com/home.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Heston Blumenthal, Ashley Palmer-Watts
Richard Vines/ Bloomberg.
Chef Heston Blumenthal (right) came top for best meal in Harden's guide to London restaurants. On the left is Ashley Palmer-Watts, his executive chef.
Chef Heston Blumenthal (right) came top for best meal in Harden's guide to London restaurants. On the left is Ashley Palmer-Watts, his executive chef. Photographer: Richard Vines/ Bloomberg.
Heston Blumenthal
Simon Dawson/Bloomberg
British chef Heston Blumenthal. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in London was named the U.K.’s best restaurant in the Observer Food Monthly awards, just eight months after it opened.
British chef Heston Blumenthal. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in London was named the U.K.’s best restaurant in the Observer Food Monthly awards, just eight months after it opened. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg
Mark Hix
Richard Vines/Bloomberg
Chef Mark Hix at his London restaurant. Mark's Bar on the lower level was named best place to drink in the Observer Food Monthly awards.
Chef Mark Hix at his London restaurant. Mark's Bar on the lower level was named best place to drink in the Observer Food Monthly awards. Photographer: Richard Vines/Bloomberg
Rate this Page
Bloomberg moderates all comments. Comments that are abusive or off-topic will not be posted to the site. Excessively long comments may be moderated as well. Bloomberg cannot facilitate requests to remove comments or explain individual moderation decisions.