8 British restaurants were added to the Michelin Guide in May 2026

Gaining a Michelin star is one achievement which sits high on the bucket list of most restaurants, and eight British eateries just got one step closer to claiming one. 

Each month, the Michelin Guide’s army of anonymous inspectors unfurl their napkins, take up a knife and fork and sample some of the country’s top cuisine, judging it against criteria including quality of ingredients, mastery of flavour, personality and consistency. 

Restaurants impressive enough to excel across all these categories get added to the Guide, meaning that later down the line they’ll be in with a chance of earning a much-coveted star.

So which British restos are the latest to be recognised for their culinary prowess?

Well, the May lineup was actually on the slimmer side compared to recent months. In March, 18 of the country’s foodie spots made it onto the Guide, followed by another 18 in April. May’s list was shorter, with just eight entries. Three of them hail from London, and we’ve already compiled a list of the restaurants from the capital which joined the Michelin Guide in May here.

Following an influx of pubs entering the selection in April, another two were added last month: Harberton’s The Church House Inn, with its rotating dishes of ‘classic cuisine’ like grilled John Dory and Tamworth chops, and The Woolpack Inn in Northington, which has a menu of modern British dishes..

Cardiff bar and bistro Sonder also made the May list. Nestled in the Pontcanna Laundry development, one of the Welsh city’s most food-friendly ‘burbs, the relaxed neighbourhood spot serves small bites, locally-sourced meat cuts and fish dishes like Loch Daurt salmon and Porthilly mussels.

Meanwhile in Birmingham, Trillium was praised by the Michelin gourmands for its ‘appealing snacks, small plates and sharing platters’. The Brummy spot is the latest from Glynn Purnell, who’s no stranger to the Guide, having gained stars at two previous haunts: Jessica’s and Purnell’s. 

Inos in York brings Greek food to the fore, offering what Michelin deemed ‘a roll-call of authentic classics’. The inspectors praised its lunch menu as seriously ‘excellent value for money’, while the pita with hummus and tirokafteri (feta-based dip) and moussaka were particular highlights.

Every British restaurant added to the Michelin Guide in May 2026

• Cometa, London
  
• Inos, York
  
• Khao Bird, London
  
• Rucola, London
  
• Sonder, Cardiff
  
• The Church House Inn, Harberton
  
• The Woolpack Inn, Northington
  
• Trillium, Birmingham

Did you see that Robert de Niro’s Nobu is opening a members’ club in the Midlands?

Plus: a major Michelin star rating system is being axed for British restaurants.