The best restaurant in the UK has just been named as L’Enclume, the much-loved Lake District restaurant owned by Simon Rogan.
And the north west has shone across the board in the Harden’s Top 100 Best UK Restaurants, with eight other local spots making the prestigious list.
There were two entries for Greater Manchester, three for Lancashire, and three in Cumbria.
Both Mana in Ancoats and Where The Light Gets In in Stockport were awarded positions in the top 100, with the latter storming into the top 50.
It comes off the back of Where The Light Gets In being awarded a fourth AA rosette just a few months ago, to go on its mantelpiece with its Michelin Green Star.
ADVERTISEMENT
But the top spot this year in the Harden’s guide has gone to L’Enclume, a restaurant that has always featured on the list but never before made it to number one.
Diners hailed the 17-course set menu at L’Enclume as ‘a completely faultless experience’.
ADVERTISEMENT
Chef owner Simon Rogan says: “My team and myself are honoured that L’Enclume has been rated the number 1 restaurant in the UK by diners on behalf of Harden’s.
Simon Rogan of L’Enclume restaurant, just named the best in the UK. Credit: Supplied
“To have been featured in Harden’s Top 100 every year since its inception in 2011 is an amazing achievement and being awarded the top spot for the 2024 edition is a testament to the amazing year we’ve had.”
Peter Harden, co-founder of Harden’s, added: “L’Enclume has always been consistent in its top quality offering and it was wonderful to hear the recent news that Paul Burgalières, who has been a key figure in L’Enclume’s evolution over the past six years, has now been appointed Executive Chef.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Coming in at £300+ it’s certainly one of the higher priced restaurants in our listings, but we see none of the resistance from diners with regards to paying those prices that we’ve seen at other top establishments. Those who’ve made the pilgrimage think it’s money very well spent.”
Paul Burgalières added: “I am very proud of everything we have achieved at L’Enclume over the past couple of years. To take the position of Executive Chef has been a great honour, and I am excited that our work at the restaurant has achieved such a high level of recognition.”
The number of London restaurants on the list has fallen to an all-time low as the spotlight moves further north, with the North West now one of the best-performing regions outside the capital.
Where The Light Gets In in Stockport. Credit: Instagram, @arestaurantwherethelightgetsin
Mana was praised for its ‘outstanding all-round’ form while Where The Light Gets In was celebrated for its ‘major emphasis on sustainability and local sourcing’ with ‘delicious wine pairings’ all served by ‘lovely staff’.
Mark Birchall’s Moor Hall, just up the road in Aughton, also shot into the top 10 and placed at number six.
ADVERTISEMENT
Northcote, also in Lancashire, ranked 70th in the top 100 and the White Swan at Fence was labelled ‘restaurant of the year’.
Peter Harden, co-founder of Harden’s, comments: “This year it has been interesting to note that London’s grip on the Top 100 list is the weakest that we have ever recorded (the lowest previous figure was 41 in the 2020 guide). Whilst 12 months is too little data for firm pronouncements, this swing to the shires may reflect the increasing excellence of dining out across the UK.
“The North-West has made a strong showing in this year’s list, not necessarily for the cities themselves but for top dining in leafy touristic locations such as the Lake District and Lancashire. With more and more diners seemingly valuing and indeed seeking out these types of dining experiences, the region could have even more to gain by drawing further attention to its stunning countryside locales.”
Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa – the Grade I-listed spa with a surprising royal history
Aimee Woodcock
There’s something rather special about arriving at Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa. Hidden away in the Cheshire countryside, the Grade I-listed 17th-century Jacobean mansion makes quite the first impression.
The grand architecture of the hotel building and the history of the estate spill out into the grounds, including a beautiful chapel tucked away near the main building, where stunning stained glass adds another impressive detail to an already spectacular setting.
But perhaps the biggest surprise comes when checking into one of the hotel’s rooms, if you end up (as we did) in the room that once played host to King George V and Queen Mary during their royal visit in 1913 – meaning guests can quite literally spend the night where royalty once slept.
That’s not the main reason we’re here though – Crewe Hall also has its own spa, offering the perfect excuse to slow down for a few hours and make the most of the facilities.
Kick off with a 50-minute ‘Relaxing Face and Back’ treatment, using Elemis products, before heading into the jacuzzi whirlpool, steam room and sauna.
It’s the sort of addition that turns an overnight stay into a proper treat.
Dinner at The Brasserie brings a menu packed with dishes that feel just as indulgent as the surroundings, with pan-fried scallops served with confit red pepper and Vietnamese soft-shell crab among the starters.
Beautiful treatment roomsThe chapel at Crewe HallThe incredible spaces at Crewe HallThe incredible spaces at Crewe HallDinner at Crewe HallA four-poster bedroom with a royal historyMore magnificent interiors
For mains, sirloin steak and lamb rump arrive cooked to perfection, with chocolate brownie and white chocolate crème brûlée to finish off.
After dinner, the grand surroundings give way to a much more peaceful side of Crewe Hall, with four-poster beds and views across the gardens making for a particularly relaxing end to the evening, and start to the next day.
Morning brings another highlight in the form of breakfast, with a generous spread offering everything from a full English and hot breakfast favourites to breads, pastries, cereals and more.
It’s this combination that makes Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa stand out.
There’s the history and grandeur of the Jacobean mansion, the chance to stay in a room with a royal connection, a spa designed for switching off and a restaurant that delivers when it comes to dinner, all wrapped up in the peaceful surroundings of the Cheshire countryside.
And throughout it all, the team, including Kerry, Tony and the wider Crewe Hall staff, add to what feels like a genuinely memorable stay.
For anyone looking for a countryside escape that offers a little more than simply somewhere to spend the night, Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa might be the one for you.
Three Manchester motorways named in UK’s top 10 ‘most challenging’
Emily Sergeant
Three motorways in and around Manchester have been named the ‘most challenging’ in the UK.
As part of MoneySuperMarket’s new Great British Motorway Report, new research has found that one in three UK motorists find motorway driving ‘stressful’ – despite more than 70 billion miles being travelled on Britain’s motorways each year.
From delays and congestion to high traffic levels, there are a number of factors that can contribute to driver stress levels.
But are some motorways more challenging for drivers than others? According to the data, yes. And three of the top 10 worst motorways in the UK are in and around Greater Manchester.
To find out which are the most challenging, MoneySuperMarket analysed everything from collision rates and roadworks, to lane closures and driver feedback in order to reveal the top 10.
Manchester is home to three of the UK’s top 10 most challenging motorways – the M602, M62, and M60, the latter of which took the top spot on the list.
Three Manchester motorways have been named in the UK’s top 10 ‘most challenging’ / Credit: pxfuel
Encircling Greater Manchester and linking many of the region’s motorways, the M60 recorded the lowest overall score in the index.
Despite handling significant volumes of traffic, the M60 experienced some of the highest average delays, at 15.58 seconds per vehicle per mile, and alongside this, it saw 34 collisions in the past year alone. But despite these challenges, the M60 remains an essential route for regional connectivity, and often cannot be bypassed.
“If you’re feeling anxious, allow extra time for your journey so you don’t feel pressured to rush or make last-minute decisions,” commented Alicia Hempsted at MoneySuperMarket.
“Plan your route in advance, including where you’ll stop for breaks, as regular rest stops can help you stay alert and reduce stress on longer trips, and if you’re travelling alone, consider sharing your route with someone you trust if it helps you feel more comfortable.”
Daisy Jackson -
13th December 2023 
