Mon 10th Feb 2025 - Plates in London makes history by becoming the first UK vegan restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star Plates in London makes history by becoming the first UK vegan restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star: Plates in London made history by tonight becoming the first vegan restaurant in the UK to be awarded a Michelin star. Executive chef Kirk Haworth opened Plates in the capital’s Old Street in July 2024, which he runs with his sister, Keeley Haworth. Blackburn-born Kirk, who was the first plant-based chef to ever compete on the Great British Menu, was influenced by his father, Nigel Haworth, who was chef patron of the one Michelin-starred Northcote Manor in Lancashire. He won North West Young Chef of the year at 17 and started his career working with his dad at Northcote as an apprentice before going on to work at other leading Michelin starred restaurants including The French Laundry, Restaurant Sat Bains, Sydney’s The Quay, and The Square under Phil Howard. In 2016, Kirk was diagnosed with Lyme disease, which led him to overhaul his lifestyle and explore a plant-based diet, and after discovering that removing meat, gluten, refined sugar and dairy reduced the intensity of his symptoms, he created his own ethos for his plant-based restaurant. “It’s about trying to get rid of that word (vegan) and replacing it with flavour, excitement and innovation,” Haworth said on receiving his award. The Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland Ceremony 2025 was held outside of England for the first time, at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. It was a double celebration for Mark Birchall, who as well as celebrating his daughter Jessica’s fifth birthday, saw his restaurant at Moor Hall in Aughton become the sole new recipient of a third Michelin Star. Birchall, who was awarded his first star in 2018 and a second in 2019, said: “You dream about these things. It’s one of the best feelings ever to get a star, and this is amazing. The secret is a having a good team – we’ve got a great core and try to make our guests feel special.” Seven restaurants also maintained their three Michelin stars, including the Waterside in Bray (Alain Roux), which was celebrating a remarkable 40 years with three stars. “It’s down to a big family,” Roux said. “My uncle and father opened Waterside 1972. The Michelin Guide came out in 1974 and awarded it one star, then a second star in 1977 and a third star in 1985. There’s no secret, it’s not just me or my dad, it’s one big family.” Also maintaining three stars were Karl Jaques (Fat Duck, Bray), Simon Rogan MBE (L’Enclume, Cartmel), Jean Phillipe-Blondet (Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, London), Clare Smyth MBE (Core by Clare Smyth, London), Marco Zampese (Helene Darozze at The Connaught, London), Matt Abe (Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London), Brett Graham (The Ledbury, London) and Daniel Stucki (Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library, London). There were three new holders of two Michelin stars, bringing the total in the UK and Ireland to 29. They included The Ritz in London (John Williams MBE). Williams said: “I’ve waited 50 years for this, I thought we were forgotten! The Ritz is a special place. The food is very, very important but the experience is done by the service.” The two other new two-star recipients were Angelo Sato (Humble Chicken, London) and Allister Barsby (Hide and Fox, Saltwood).  Among the 22 new one stars awarded, alongside Haworth’s historic triumph, there was another first created by Tom Waters at Gorse, which became the first Cardiff restaurant to hold a Michelin star. There was double delight for Jorge Parades, who not only saw his Hellenic-inspired small plates restaurant, Oma, in London’s Borough Market receive its first Michelin star, but he also picked up the Opening of the Year award. “I’m super excited, it’s a dream come true for me,” he said. Last year’s Young Chef Award winner, Jake Jones, saw his Forge restaurant in Middleton Tyas awarded a first Michelin star, while Jason Atherton, with four Michelin stars already under his belt, added another to the list with a first for Row on 5, his London restaurant with Spencer Metzger. Another who is no stranger to Michelin stars is Rodney Wages, whose Avery restaurant in San Francisco held a Michelin Star before he relocated it to Edinburgh, where it has now repeated the trick. The other one stars awarded were: Mark Poynton (Mark Poynton at Caistor Hall, Caistor St Edmund), Adam Nevin (The Morrison Room, Maynooth), Jan Ostle (Wilsons, Bristol), John Chantarasak (Anglothai, London), Gary Foulkes (Cornus, London), James Winter (33 The Homend, Ledbury), Nick Beardshaw (Starling, Esher), Luke Ahearne (Lita, London), Stuart Ralston (Lyla, Edinburgh), Stuart Andrew (64 Goodge Street, London), Leonel Aguirre (Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at The Owo), Tom Barnes (Skof, Manchester), Danny Africano (Lignum, Ballaun), Diego Ferrari & Emily Roux (Caractere, London), Richard Picard-Edwards (Ballyfin, Ballyfin) and Jihun Kim (Dosa, London). Five new green stars were also awarded to: Peter Neville (Goathland, Yorkshire), Richard Stevens (Jericho, Plungar), Ivan Tisdall-Downes (Native, Tenbury Wells), James Sherwin (Wild Shropshire, Whitchurch) and Darren Broom (Pythouse Kitchen Garden, Tisbury). Of the individual accolades, the Mentor Chef award went to Adam Byatt (Trinity, London). He said: “There’s some brilliant people who have come through my kitchen, and the more the merrier. It’s not an easy industry but get in front of someone who inspires you and will invest in your future.” Young Chef of the Year went to South African Ash Valenzuela-Heeger, of the 12-seater Riverine Rabbit in Birmingham, which was also one of 36 new Bib Gourmand restaurants. The Michelin Service Award was won by Jasmine Sherry (Fish Shop, Ballater, Scotland) while Zsolt Lukacs (Darog, Galway, Ireland) landed the Sommelier Award.