The North West has been confirmed as one of the most exciting dining regions in the UK, as two spots in the region secured both first and second place in the newly released top 100 list of best restaurants in the country for 2026. Located just 50 minutes from Manchester, Moor Hall in Aughton, West Lancashire, has been voted best restaurant in the UK in the latest edition of Harden’s Top 100 Best UK Restaurants.
Also representing the North West in the restaurant list was Simon Rogan’s 2024 winner, L’Enclume in Cartmel, Cumbria, which took the runner-up position in the national table. Plus, the North West secured 12 venues in the Top 100 list, including two Manchester restaurants, making it the strongest performer of any UK region outside London.
Moor Hall: the UK’s best restaurant in Harden’s top 100 list
Run by chef-patron Mark Birchall, the restaurant has climbed dramatically from last year’s No. 74 ranking, with diners praising it as “not just a meal, it’s an experience” that is “superb from beginning to end”. Reports consistently described the food as “faultless in every way” and “pitch perfect”.
Set in five acres of beautiful gardens, with views to the south over a glistening lake, said to be the remains of a medieval moat, you’ll find the three Michelin star restaurant with seven unique, luxurious bedrooms and The Barn at Moor Hall. What’s more, the gorgeous countryside complex at Moor Hall in Ormskirk is now home to seven beautiful garden rooms, each complete with a hot tub and state-of-the-art design.
Commenting on the accolade, chef-patron of Moor Hall, Mark Birchall, said: “I’m honoured that Moor Hall has been awarded the No. 1 spot in this year’s Harden’s Top 100 UK Restaurants list. This has already been a landmark year for us, and I’m delighted to see the team’s dedication recognised once again. Our success is driven by the talent, consistency and commitment of everyone who contributes to the experience at Moor Hall. It’s a wonderful acknowledgement of their hard work and passion, and we’re proud to share this achievement with everyone who dines with us.”
Two Manchester restaurants in the national Top 20
The North West not only saw success with Moor Hall and L’Enclume, but also two of Manchester’s Michelin-starred restaurants appeared in the list too. Skof, which has received countless awards since it opened, landed a Top 10 debut, just one year after opening.
Diners praised Tom Barnes’ cooking for “inventive dishes with the highest-quality ingredients, showcasing seasonality, local sourcing and superb wine pairings”. The guide highlights the four-course lunch (£55) as “an amazing meal for a great price.” Plus, Ancoats restaurant Mana moved up to No.11, earning acclaim for its “interesting and innovative cuisine with unique flavours” and “superb service.”
Cumbria: the county with the most top 100 restaurants outside London
Cumbria strengthens its reputation as one of the UK’s finest rural dining destinations with seven entries in the Top 100 — two more than last year. These include the likes of L’Enclume, Cartmel (No.2), Heft, Newton-in-Cartmel (No. 47), The Cedar Tree, Farlam Hall (No. 67), The Forest Side, Grasmere (No. 70), Allium at Askham Hall, Penrith (No. 77), The Cottage in the Wood, Braithwaite (No. 84) and Old Stamp House, Ambleside (No. 92).
Harden’s top 100 best restaurants in the UK for 2026
The Top 100 restaurants were derived from 30,000 reports with ratings submitted by 2,500 diners who contributed to the Harden’s annual survey.
1 Moor Hall, Aughton (74)
2 L’Enclume, Cartmel (73)
3 Waterside Inn, Bray (11)
4 The Ledbury, London (8)
5 ROW on 5, London
6 Woven by Adam Smith at Coworth Park, Ascot (4)
7 Humble Chicken, London
8 Outlaw’s New Road, Port Isaac (12)
9 Da Terra, Town Hall Hotel, London (19)
10 Skof, Manchester
11 Mana, Manchester (29)
12 Albatross Death Cult, Birmingham
13 Northcote, Langho (33)
14 Paul Ainsworth at No6, Padstow (22)
15 Osip, Bruton (20)
16 Meadowsweet, Holt (36)
17 Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder (15)
18 Behind, London (24)
19 Roketsu, London (27)
20 Opheem, Birmingham (6)
21 Plates, London
22 The Angel, Hetton (26)
23 Sollip, London
24 Gwen, Machynlleth (64)
25 Core by Clare Smyth, London (17)
26 The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant, Crieff
27 Kitchen Table, London (44)
28 Myse, Hovingham (96)
29 A Wong, London (25)
30 Restaurant Sat Bains, Nottingham (38)
31 The Black Swan, Oldstead
32 Paris House, Woburn (60)
33 Winteringham Fields, Winteringham
34 Gidleigh Park, Chagford
35 Hambleton Hall, Hambleton (47)
36 Restaurant Martin Wishart, Edinburgh
37 Morston Hall, Morston Holt
38 Pine, East Wallhouses (2)
39 Akoko, London (21)
40 AngloThai, London
41 Restaurant St. Barts, London
42 Trinity, London (82)
43 Hunan, London
44 Caractère, London
45 Cornus, London
46 Ikoyi, London
47 Heft, Newton in Cartmel (65)
48 Roots, York (76)
49 Bohemia, Jersey (48)
50 Kioku at the OWO, London
51 Lympstone Manor, Exmouth (23)
52 Frog by Adam Handling, London (100)
53 Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library, London 54 The Fat Duck, Bray (72)
55 Aulis London, London (14)
56 LPM (fka La Petite Maison), London
57 The Ritz, London (71)
58 Sushi Tetsu, London (32)
59 Edinbane Lodge, Edinbane
60 Alchemilla, Nottingham (28)
61 Gravetye Manor, East Grinstead (99)
62 Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms, Eglwys Fach (93)
63 Grace & Savour, Hampton-in-Arden (30)
64 Brooklands, London (55)
65 Takahashi, London
66 Upstairs by Tom Shepherd, Lichfield (63)
67 The Cedar Tree, Farlam Hall, Brampton
68 Cail Bruich, Glasgow (40)
69 The Kitchin, Edinburgh (81)
70 The Forest Side, Grasmere
71 Hide, London
72 Evelyn’s Table at The Blue Posts, London
73 SOLA, London (98)
74 Trivet, London
75 Interlude, Lower Beeding
76 Home at Penarth, Penarth
77 Allium at Askham Hall, Penrith
78 The Tudor Room, Great Fosters Hotel, Egham
79 The Cocochine, London
80 The Dining Room, Whatley Manor, Easton Grey
81 Kai Mayfair, London
82 House of Tides, Newcastle upon Tyne
83 The Nut Tree Inn, Murcott (59)
84 The Cottage In The Wood, Braithwaite
85 Nobu, Metropolitan Hotel, London
86 So-lo, Aughton
87 Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, Port Isaac (41)
88 The Whitebrook, Restaurant with Rooms, Whitebrook (88)
89 The Old Deanery, Ripon
90 Bar des Prés, London
91 Ormer Mayfair by Sofian, Flemings Mayfair Hotel, London (51)
92 Old Stamp House, Ambleside (37)
93 Number One, Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh
94 Artichoke, Amersham (79)
95 The Jackdaw, Conwy
96 Furna, Brighton (42)
97 Hakkasan Mayfair, London
98 Unalome by Graeme Cheevers, Glasgow (43)
99 John’s House, Mountsorrel (10)
100 The Royal Oak, Whatcote
Celebrating 35 years of polling diners for their views on the nation’s best places to eat, the latest edition of the Harden’s guide, published this week, is one of only two surviving established UK restaurant guides made available in print. A total of 30,000 reports were submitted from a survey of 2,500 diners. Restaurants at all price levels are included: from street food vendors to the country’s most ambitious dining rooms, with 2,800 restaurants listed.
Where to find Moor Hall, the nation’s best restaurant, and how to book
The UK’s best restaurant in Harden’s list, Moor Hall, can be found at Prescot Rd, Aughton, Ormskirk, L39 6RT and is approximately a 50-minute drive from Manchester city centre. You can book a table at the restaurant or a room to stay here.
