Manchester’s 40-year-wait for Michelin Star finally comes to an end

Manchester has finally got a Michelin Star after more than a forty year wait

The Scandinavian style Mana in Ancoats has become the first restaurant in the city to be awarded a coveted star since 1977.

Chef Simon Martin was awarded the star less than a year after opening his ambitious establishment.

Simon Martin

He said: “It puts quite a bit of pressure on. It’s something quite a lot of people expected from us from the start but it’s absolutely amazing to be here in front of all these people – it’s incredible.”

Martin learnt his craft at Copenhagen’s world-famous Noma.

He serves a 16-course tasting menu making use of locally-grown and foraged seasonal ingredients in dishes such as grilled onions, kelp and fermented rice, salt-aged duck hung over burning charcoal, and yakitori-style eel with roasted yeast and blueberry.

The last restaurant in Greater Manchester to be awarded a star was Juniper in Altrincham, which held it for 11 years.

Until now the French at the Midland Hotel was the only Manchester city centre restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star, which it held from 1974 until 1977.

There were high hopes that Adam Reid would win a star along with Aiden Byrne at MCR.

Enxaneta, the recently launched fine dining experience at Tast in King Street which is owned by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, also lost out.

However, it was not good news for Derbyshire.

Fischer’s

Fischer’s at Baslow Hall, Baslow in Derbyshire has lost its one Michelin star in Michelin Guide to Great Britain and Ireland 2020.

Fisher’s was awarded its 25th Michelin star last October in the 2019 Guide. It had been Derbyshire’s only Michelin-starred restaurant after first receiving the accolade in 1994.

The restaurant is located in a 100-year-old Grade II-listed manor house in the Peak District. It first opened in 1989.

The Lake District has three restaurants which have landed Michelin stars for the first time.

Cottage in the Wood is best known for its fresh fish and locally sourced food.

Allium at Askham Hall and Old Stamp House. Old Stamp House was originally famous as somewhere Wordsworth once worked, as a postmaster.

Simon Shaw, who owns El Gato Negro in the city centre and Canto in Ancoats, told the Caterer: “For a city like Manchester that has a strong tourism trade, or for a city looking to build one, a Michelin star definitely has value, it elevates not just the restaurant’s profile but that of the town or city.

“From a chef’s perspective it’s the pinnacle of success. There are certainly restaurants in Manchester deserving of one, it’s a crime Manchester has missed out in recent years.”

One hundred and eighty-seven Michelin-Starred Restaurants are featured for 2020, including one new Three Star, four new Two Stars and 23 new One Stars.

“Despite the obvious challenges being faced by the industry here in the UK, we are thrilled that this has been such a stellar year, and we have seen many first ventures opening and rapidly rising to success,” says Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin guides.