squaremeal.co.uk | 11
restaurant news
TOM TOPS ITWe have had a tremendous
response this year in our quest
to nd the BMW Square Meal
Best UK Restaurant 2015. Thousands of votes
ooded in from readers, bloggers and reviewers
from all over the country. The result is a list of
the 50 best places to eat outside London that
showcases the sheer quality and variety of the
UK restaurant scene, and the talent behind it.
Amiable sta and a relaxed atmosphere
have been a running theme among this year's
most notable restaurants, with Artichoke
(in Buckinghamshire) scoring highly thanks
to "friendly, skilled sta " and an open-plan
kitchen that creates a convivial buzz. But that's
not to say ne dining is out. The sumptuous
surroundings and elaborate French cuisine from
André Garrett in the famous stately home of
Cliveden (near Maidenhead) bagged it a place
near the top of the list, while Manchester's
The French by Simon Rogan - renowned for
its opulent decor and tasting menus - was also
a worthy front runner.
HANDS DOWN WINNER
But the winner of our Best UK Restaurant 2015
is Tom Kerridge's Marlow gastropub, The Hand
Flowers. This terri cally popular venture is
the rst (and only) pub to hold two Michelin
stars, and exempli es the trend towards
providing premium dining in an informal
setting. Explaining the philosophy behind the
restaurant, Kerridge commented: "We're all fairly
grounded people who have tried to create an
environment where we would like to spend
time ourselves. We talk to our customers how
we would like to be talked to: normal people
having a chat with other normal people."
"We never set out to win awards," continued
Kerridge, but his unfussy formula of "simple
food with simple ideas that everyone
understands" is clearly a winning one, the key to
success, he says, being "brilliant sta ".
Congratulations to all at The Hand ¢ Flowers,
who join last year's winner Northcote in our
Square Meal BMW Hall of Fame. And a big thank
you to BMW for its sponsorship of the awards
for the 15th consecutive year. You will not be
disappointed by a meal at any of the winners.
Turn to p.58 for the top 50 UK restaurants
Tom Kerridge holds
the award in the
company of his team
DIARY DATE
21 Sept - John Burton-Race re-opens
The New Angel in Notting Hill
Psst!
For the latest news, views and industry
whispers, follow us on Twitter
@squaremeal and find all of our new
reviews on squaremeal.co.uk
Social Butterfl y
Man-of-the-moment Jason Atherton's Social empire will arrive in Covent Garden
as the agship restaurant in the newly converted Bow Street Magistrate's Court
hotel. The as-yet unnamed bar-restaurant will be a new concept for
him and his team, with a nod to the building's history. Atherton has
only just opened Marylebone's Social Wine Tapas (see review,
p.42), and will soon be jetting o to open Marina Social in Dubai,
and Kensington Street Social in Sydney. New Japanese venture
Sosharu is also launching imminently in Clerkenwell. But possibly the
highlight of this stellar career to date is the release of Atherton's very
own fragrance. Ah, the sweet smell of Social success…
JASON ATHERTON PHOTO: STEVE RYAN
DIARY DATE
21 Sept - John Burton-Race re-opens
The New Angel in Notting Hill
Psst!
For the latest news, views and industry
whispers, follow us on Twitter
@squaremeal and find all of our new
reviews on squaremeal.co.uk
Man-of-the-moment Jason Atherton's Social empire will arrive in Covent Garden
as the agship restaurant in the newly converted Bow Street Magistrate's Court
hotel. The as-yet unnamed bar-restaurant will be a new concept for
him and his team, with a nod to the building's history. Atherton has
Social Wine Tapas (see review,
Marina Social in Dubai,
in Sydney. New Japanese venture
is also launching imminently in Clerkenwell. But possibly the
highlight of this stellar career to date is the release of Atherton's very
own fragrance. Ah, the sweet smell of Social success…