The 32nd edition of the Harden’s guide (£18.99) was published this week (also available as an app.) The guide is now the only UK restaurant guide to be sold in bookshops that is based on feedback from ‘regular’ diners rather than professional inspectors. The results are accumulated from a total of 30,000 reports which have been submitted from a survey of 3,000 diners. 2,800 restaurants are listed in total at all price levels from street food vendors to the country’s most ambitious dining rooms.
The North West came out as one of the best performing regions outside London with an impressive 38 ‘Top Scoring’ restaurants, nine of which have made it into the acclaimed Harden’s Top 100. Only Edinburgh (49) had more listings than Manchester (47) establishing the city as one of the most vibrant restaurant scenes in the country.
Adam Reid at The French has been awarded a place in the list’s coveted Top 10 claiming the lucky number 7 spot, climbing a remarkable number of places from last year when it ranked at number 40. The Midland Hotel’s famous restaurant shot into the top end of the table for Adam Reid’s tasting menu food “that fully delivers on the hit to the tastebuds”. Diners commented: “It’s not all serious plates, with some playful dishes offering something a little different and intriguing”. Diners hailed it as “the best culinary experience in Manchester”.
Mana in Ancoats continues to be heralded as “undeniably one of the UK’s top tables” for Simon Martin’s “fabulous airy space within the foodie hotspot. “However, Manchester’s only Michelin starred restaurant has fallen from its previous Top 10 spot down to number 73. The guide notes that: “With stardom has come higher prices, and doubts are creeping in about the ultimate level of value it delivers. One in six [of polled diners] now consider it notably overpriced. The remainder agreeing that ‘it’s not cheap, but you pay for what you get”.
Cumbria was ranked 2nd in UK counties with most Top 100 restaurant listings (joint with North Yorkshire) including Simon Rogan’s world famous L’Enclume (8) and Aulis at L’Enclume (45) in Cartmel; The Forest Side (27) in Grasmere and The Old Stamp House (79) in Ambleside. An additional three restaurants from the North West region made it into Harden’s Top 100 including The Art School in Liverpool (33) the two Michelin starred Moor Hall (77) in Aughton; and Fraiche, Oxton (100) which has now sadly closed permanently.
Also read: Get out of town – Treat yourself to a visit to Heft at High Newton in Cumbria
Restaurant Andrew Fairlie at The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire was crowned the UK’s best restaurant in the new Harden’s Top 100 list. Scotland’s world famous restaurant hailed – ‘a memory to be treasured’ – shot to the top spot for its luxurious ingredients prepared with ‘impeccable skill and creativity’ and attentive staff who are ‘knowledgeable in all respects’.
Peter Harden, co-founder of Harden’s, commented: “The North West is home to some of the country’s most renowned restaurants and consistently performs well in the Harden’s Top 100 due to the high quality, diverse nature and depth of what’s on offer.
“Interestingly, it’s also an area where, like London, restaurant price increases have caused some guests to question whether they still see the same value in the overall proposition when dining out. What is an enjoyable experience at £100 per head can soon lose its lustre when prices as good as double.
“Restaurants are currently facing increasing costs from every angle so it’s no surprise these are being reflected on menus, but some of our polled results and diner comments this year show that customer expectations are struggling to keep pace and it’s easy for restaurants to begin to fall out of favour as a result.”
 was published this week and the North West was one of the best performing regions outside London.){kind=link}