The Sportsman Pub Takes National Restaurant Of The Year For The Second Year Running

Iconic Kent boozer scoops top place for the second time at the National Restaurant Awards.

Stephen Harris’ ‘grotty rundown pub by the sea’ as he famously describes it on Twitter has won the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Award for the second year running.

This year, saw plenty of new entries on the list, with a particularly strong showing from Asian restaurants including restaurant A Wong, whom Culture Trip visited earlier this year, as well as two popular Thai restaurants Kiln and Som Saa. Also noticeable in this year’s list of 100 winners are a number of casual dining establishments, highlighting the fact that good food is becoming more affordable and accessible. Restaurants such as Hoppers, Padella, Smoking Goat, Bao Soho, El Gato Negro, Kricket and Box-E all made the 100-strong list.

Self-taught chef

Not only did Harris win best restaurant of the year, he also took home the Gastropub of the Year award, marking an exceptional year for Harris who also has a cookbook published by Phaidon out on 25 September. Entirely self taught, Harris has been quietly getting on with refining his cooking over a number of years now, and gathering awards aplenty.

Eight out of the top restaurants are based in the capital, highlighting that London is still statistically the best place to eat out. What’s more the range of cuisines on offer, from Spanish to Chinese to Indian, reveals that in London, you really can eat your way around the world.

1. The Sportsman
2. The Ledbury
3. A Wong
4. Som Saa
5. Barrafina, Adelaide Street
6. Casamia
7. The Clove Club
8. Elystan Street
9. Kiln
10. Hedone

About the author

Andrew Webb

Food & Drink Editor

Born in the Midlands and raised in the North West of England, Andrew came to London to attend St Martin's College of Art. After ten years working for the BBC and Channel 4, he set off on an eight month food tour of Britain, which led him to write his award-winning book, Food Britannia. He was previously the Editor of Lovefood.com and also produced and hosted delicious magazine's podcast. Responsible for the Culture Trip's food and drink content, he is interested in hearing about food events, product launches and potential interviews with chefs and food producers. He's also judged the British Pie Awards, reviewed restaurants, and spoken at food festivals, and so knows a good plate of food when he sees it. He can be found tweeting here @foodjournalist