10 Michelin star restaurants in the UK with menus under £45

By Alice Crick

Around the UK and Ireland, Michelin-starred restaurants are opening their doors with affordable menus to tempt in everyday diners like you and me. And with the first star awarded to a street vendor (Singapore), it seems fine dining is giving itself a makeover.

Skip to your area:
South East
West Country
North of England
Scotland
Ireland

SOUTH EAST

The Royal Oak, Paley Street, Maidenhead
Owned by Sir Michael Parkinson and his son Nick, The Royal Oak opened in 2001 and has been collecting awards ever since. The restaurant was awarded a Michelin star and three AA rosettes. The set banqueting menu starts from £30.

Gravetye Manor Hotel, West Hoathly, East Grinstead
Head chef George Blogg creates modern British dining at the one-starred Gravetye. Using ingredients from the one-acre kitchen garden, the aim is to mirror the outside landscape, all within the surroundings of open fires and gentle piano music. The lunch menu costs £35 for two courses or £40 for three.

The Fordwich Arms, King Street, Fordwich, Kent
Daniel Smith, who was formerly at Clove Club in London, took over as Chef Patron of this country pub with his fiancé Natasha Norton-Smith and sommelier Guy Palmer-Brown. You can enjoy three courses for £35.

WEST COUNTRY

Paul Ainsworth at No6, Middle Street, Padstow
Opened and run by Paul Ainsworth as part of his ‘family’, which also includes the Townhouse and Rojanos, No6 currently holds one Michelin star and four AA rosettes. Modern British dining with a focus on local fresh fish is the order of the day here. Paul’s set lunch menu costs £25 for two courses or £29 for three.

The Masons Arms, Knowstone, South Molton
Owned by chef Mark Dodson, The Masons Arms serves traditional West Country cuisine. Having worked as the head chef of Michel Roux’s Waterside Inn, Mark was awarded a Michelin star in 2006, which he’s now held for 10 years. The set lunch menu costs £21 for two courses, or £25 for three.

NORTH OF ENGLAND

House of Tides, The Close, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Owned by Kenny Atkinson and holding one Michelin star and four AA rosettes, House of Tides focuses on the seasonality of ingredients and making the most of fine British produce.

SCOTLAND

The Kitchin, Leith, Edinburgh
Having gained a Michelin star at the age of 29, Tom Kitchin is Scotland’s youngest starred chef. The Kitchin’s philosophy is ‘from nature to plate’ working with Scottish seasonal produce to create modern British cuisine. The restaurant holds one Michelin star and five AA rosettes. The three-course set lunch menu costs £33 with optional wine pairing for an extra £27.

The Cellar, East Green, Anstruther
After running for 40 years, The Cellar was reopened in 2014 by Billy Boyter, an Anstruther local. The restaurant prides itself on using local Scottish produce – it even has its own smokehouse and fisherman’s hut – and pairing it with locally produced beer, gin and whisky. The three-course set lunch menu costs £40, plus £3.50 for coffee and petits fours.

IRELAND

Chapter One, Parnell Square, Dublin
Taking inspiration from the Irish countryside and the ingredients it produces, Chapter One serves classic Irish cuisine with modern influences and stunning presentation. Opened in 1992, the restaurant has held a Michelin star since 2007. The two-course lunch menu costs €35, while three courses are €42.

OX, Oxford Street, Belfast
With a motto of ‘dining with seasonal creativity,’ Belfast’s OX has been bringing together top quality meat, sustainably sourced fish and seasonal vegetables in its relaxed riverside restaurant for three years. The star is the latest in a hefty list of accolades. The set lunch menu costs £22 for two courses; £28 for three.

Have you had an affordable meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant that’s not on the list? Do let us know in the comments below.