Restaurant Association president Robert Walton has revealed that members of the general public will be able to attend Michelin’s announcement ceremony for the first time ever this year.
Walton made the announcement at a Restaurant Association gala dinner, revealing that the prestigious awards ceremony would take place at legendary London gig venue the Camden Roundhouse, across two days in October. Tickets will go on sale for the event, meaning that members of the public will get to witness Michelin handing out stars to chefs live.
Speaking to The Caterer, Walton said: “Chefs are the rock stars of hospitality, so let’s make it a rock star event – super cool, modern and trendy, but relaxed.”
The annual ceremony will take place on 18 and 19 October of this year, the first time the event has been held across two days. In fact, the live awards ceremony, officially known as Michelin Star Revelation for Great Britain and Ireland, is still relatively new, having first been introduced in 2016.
The dining room at Sketch: Lecture Room & Library
Previously the awards were revealed to coincide with the release of the annual guide, but following a series of leaks prior to publication, Michelin decided to instead host a live ceremony.
Last year’s glitzy affair was held at The Hurlingham Club in Fulham and featured a special appearance from renowned chef Raymond Blanc, while the year before celebrity chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay was the guest of honour.
The Michelin guide was first published in the UK in 1911, awarding restaurants with either one, two or three stars. The 2020 guide lists just five restaurants in the UK with three Michelin stars, with Sketch: The Lecture Room & Library being promoted to three-star status having previously held two stars since 2013.
In other news, Michelin-starred chef Sat Bains thinks we’ve all been cooking ragu wrong.