Sportsman tops National Restaurant Awards 2016

Michelin-starred pub restaurant, the Sportsman has been named the UK’s best restaurant in the 2016 National Restaurant Awards. Located in Seasalter, Kent, the Sportsman has held a Michelin star since 2008 and is dedicated to serving good food in relaxed and informal surroundings. Dishes at the Sportsman stem from its surrounding area including fresh fish and oysters from the Thames Estuary as well as meat and vegetables from the surrounding woods.

Taken from the votes of 150 industry experts, including chefs, restaurateurs, food writers and critics, the top 100 is an annual list of the best restaurants across the UK. The awards aim to recognise the UK’s vibrant eating out scene from tapas bars to steakhouses and from gastro pubs to fine dining.

Awards are also given for other elements of the restaurant, including drink menus, and to exquisite chefs, see the specialist awards below.

The Service Award: The Clove Club
Cocktail List of the Year: Social Eating House
Wine List of the Year: Noble Rot
The One to Watch: Som Saa
Chef’s Chef of the Year: Phillip Howard
Lifetime Achievement Award: Pierre Koffman

Other notable restaurants throughout the top 100 include London restaurant Piquet in seventh place who was awarded Highest New Entry after only opening last year. While Ambleside restaurant, Lake Road Kitchen, was awarded Highest Climber after climbing 70 places from last years’ awards. The full list can be seen below.

1. The Sportsman, Kent
2. Barrafina Adelaide Street, London
3. The Ledbury, London
4. Hedone, London
5. Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Port Isaac
6. The Clove Club, London
7. Piquet, London
8. L’Enclume, Cartmel
9. Lyle’s, London
10. The River Café, London
11. The Walnut Tree, Abergavenny
12. Casamia, Bristol
13. The Dairy, London
14. Restaurant Sat Bains, Nottingham
15. Lake Road Kitchen, Ambleside
16. 64 Degrees, Brighton
17. Hoppers, London
18. Le Gavroche, London
19. A Wong, London
20. Frenchie, London
21. Noble Rot, London
22. Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Auchturader
23. The Waterside Inn, Bray
24. Black Axe Mangal, London
25. The Quality Chop House, London
26. Bells Diner and Bar Rooms, Bristol
27. The Man Behind the Curtain, Leeds
28. Fera, London
29. Duck & Waffle, London
30. 40 Maltby Street, London
31. Hibiscus, London
32. The Elephant, Torquay
33. The Hand and Flowers,  Marlow
34. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London
35. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London
36. Hawksmoor Seven Dials, London
37. Birch, Bristol
38. Northcote, Blackburn
39. Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
40. The Hardwick, Abergavenny
41. Portland, London
42. The Palomar, London
43. Midsummer House, Cambridge
44. Bao, London
45. Gymkhana, London
46. Pollen Street Social, London
47. The Seahorse, Dartmouth
48. Ellory, London
49. Alyn Williams at The Westbury, London
50. Manchester House, Manchester
51. Paul Ainsworth at Number 6, Padstow
52. Pitt Cue, London
53. Brawn, London
54. Otto’s, London
55. Smoking Goat, London
56. Simpsons, Birmingham
57. The Manor, London
58. Oldroyd, London
59. The Coach, Marlow
60. Ondine, Edinburgh
61. The Ninth, London
62. Bocca Di Lupo, London
63. Kitchen Table, London
64. Social Eating House, London
65. Fraiche, Oxton
66. Restaurant Story, London
67. Marcus, London
68. The Fat Duck, Bray
69. The Wolseley, London
70. Wright’s Food Emporium, Llanarthney
71. Chez Bruce, London
72. Lurra, London
73. Primeur, London
74. Sticky Walnut, Chester
75. The Kitchin, Edinburgh
76. Tyddyn Llan, Corwen
77. Colony Grill Room, London
78. Castle Terrace, Edinburgh
79. The French, Manchester
80. Darsham Nurseries, Darsham
81. El Gato Negro, Manchester
82. Snaps and Rye, London
83. Deanes EIPIC Restaurant, Belfast
84. The Wild Rabbit, Kingham
85. Ynyshir Hall, Machynlleth
86. Theo Randall at The InterContinental, London
87. Bentleys Oyster Bar & Grill, London
88. The Parkers Arms, Newton in Bowland
89. The Chilli Pickle, Brighton
90. The Pipe and Glass Inn, Beverley
91. Carters of Moseley, Moseley
92. The Flitch of Bacon, Dunmow
93. Silo, Brighton
94. MeatLiquor Marylebone, London
95. Sartoria, London
96. Wilks Restaurant, Bristol
97. Berners Tavern, London
98. Café Murano St James, London
99. House of Tides, Newcastle
100. Driftwood Hotel