THREE Scottish restaurants have been recognised as winners in a prestigious list of the UK’s top new food spots.
Experts at Condé Nast Traveller, the global authority on high-end travel, announced the winners of their second annual UK’s Top New Restaurant Awards.
Raymond Blanc OBE was one of the top chefs as part of the judging panel[/caption]
Foodie Anna Shaffer also helped select the winners[/caption]
The event, hosted by Condé Nast Traveller’s global editorial director Divia Thani, took place at the Ambassadors Clubhouse in London on Monday night.
Judges included celebrity chefs Raymond Blanc OBE and Jackson Boxer, as well as Harry Potter actress and food enthusiast Anna Shaffer, forming this year’s distinguished panel.
The winners were selected based on culinary flair, creativity, and excellence in the kitchen.
The awards aim to shine a spotlight on new restaurants across the UK that have “turned heads and won hearts“, as well as the chefs, sommeliers, and changemakers making a difference in the industry.
Among the winners, three brand-new Scottish venues stood out for their exceptional contributions to the dining scene.
Fallachan Kitchen – Finnieston, Glasgow
Fallachan Kitchen dining Glasgow focuses on intimate dining[/caption]
Situated close to SWG3 in Glasgow‘s Finnieston area, Fallachan Kitchen offers “communal fine dining from the industrial surroundings of a candlelit railway arch.”
With just six staff serving a maximum of 12 diners, the restaurant provides an intimate and unique dining experience.
Writer Rosie Conroy recommended Fallachan Kitchen for its “ten courses of staunchly seasonal fare, accompanied by detailed – bordering on nicely nerdy – explanations of ingredients and techniques.”
Opened last year, chef Craig Grozier regularly changes the menu, encouraging diners to ask questions about their food and expertly paired wines in an intimate yet interactive setting.
Their tasting menu caught the judges eye[/caption]
Nàdair – Marchmont, Edinburgh
Nàdair offers a set menu that is more relaxed than a standard tasting menu.
Nàdair in Edinburgh also was selected by the judging panels[/caption]
Focusing on the seasonality of ingredients, Conroy highlighted the neighbourhood food spot’s “repetition of flavours throughout dishes, championing the exact moment in time you’re dining in, creating a strand of consistency but also creativity throughout the meal.”
The venue also serves creative and unusual cocktails, with surprising elements woven through their hyper-seasonal menu.
They focus on hyper-seasonality with the menu changing around the moment[/caption]
Outlier – East End, Glasgow
The cosy venue started as a bakery and offers community events[/caption]
Located in Glasgow’s East End, Outlier began as a bakery but expanded into a restaurant last year.
The popular, community-focused eatery has evolved from serving coffee and cakes to offering evening meals.
The awards praised its cosy interiors and sharing dishes, which create a relaxed and friendly dining environment.
Outlier Glasgow attracted the attention of the judges for their evening menu[/caption]
On announcing this year’s winners, Divia Thani, global editorial director of Condé Nast Traveller, reflected on the unifying power of food.
She emphasised the importance of celebrating the nation’s vibrant culinary talent and the achievements of this year’s winners.
Thani said: “Food has an incredible ability to be a gateway into a culture, to break down walls and bring people together, which is what we set out to do with our second annual UK’s Top New Restaurant Awards.
Full List of Winners
The UK’s top new restaurants are:
Albatross Death Cult, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham
Ambassadors Clubhouse, Mayfair, London
AngloThai, Marylebone, London
Briar at Number One, Somerset
Camille, Borough, London
Canteen, Notting Hill, London
Fallachan Kitchen, Finnieston, Glasgow
Fonda, Mayfair, London
Josephine Bouchon, Chelsea, London
Lita, Marylebone, London
The Grain Store, Weybourne, Norfolk
Miga, Hackney, London
Nàdair, Marchmont, Edinburgh
Nest Farmhouse, Docking, Norfolk
Oma, Borough, London
Outlier, East End, Glasgow
Pomus, Margate, Kent
Riverine Rabbit, Stirchley, Birmingham
The Shed, Waterfront, Swansea
Skof, Noma, Manchester
Tollington’s, Finsbury Park, London
A reader’s choice vote selected Sonnet Restaurant, Alnwick, Northumberland as The Readers’ Favourite Top New Restaurant of 2024.
The judges also selected winners in six bespoke categories:
The Top New Sustainable Restaurant of 2024 Sponsored by Polestar
Osip, Bruton, Somerset
The Top New Hotel Restaurant 2024
Briar at Number One Bruton, Somerset
The Top New Sommelier of 2024 Sponsored by Champagne Laurent-Perrier
Emma Denney, Claridge’s, London
The Top New Chef of 2024
Kirk Haworth, Plates, London
The One to Watch 2024
Nathaniel Morley aka Natty Can Cook, The Greyhound, London
The Lifetime Achievement Award
Fergus Henderson, St. John, London
Winners were presented with a customised magnum of Laurent-Perrier Heritage.
“Gathering the top talent across the nation’s vibrant food scene to celebrate their incredible achievements here tonight has been a privilege.
“We want to congratulate all of tonight’s winners and thank our incredible panel of judges, who have rightfully recognised some of the best chefs and restaurants in the UK.”
To read the full list, visit here.
