Bristol's Wilsons Tops SquareMeal's 2026 UK Restaurant Rankings
SquareMeal, the esteemed restaurant, bar, and venue publisher, has unveiled its highly anticipated list of the 100 best eateries across the United Kingdom for the year 2026. Topping this prestigious ranking is Wilsons, a Michelin-starred, independently owned farm-to-table restaurant situated on Chandos Road in the Redland area of Bristol. The establishment has been honoured with SquareMeal's coveted Restaurant of the Year award.
Criteria and Champion: Wilsons of Bristol
The selection process for SquareMeal's top 100 was rigorous, focusing on key metrics of performance, value, and quality. Founded a decade ago by Mary Wilson and Jan Ostle, Wilsons impressed the judges with its exceptional cuisine. However, it was the restaurant's holistic philosophy that truly set it apart. SquareMeal's experts highlighted its low-waste approach, the innovative use of a dedicated kitchen garden, and what they described as "frankly astonishing" prices. The publication concluded it was "hard to find another restaurant offering so much for so little."
Runners-Up and National Highlights
Securing second place is Skof in Manchester, located on Federation Street. This venue marks chef Tom Barnes' first solo venture, which opened in May 2024 and has swiftly earned a Michelin star alongside numerous other accolades. SquareMeal praised it as being "nothing short of outstanding." In third position is Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms in Nottingham, a two-Michelin-star destination celebrated for its modern British cuisine. The panel commended Sat Bains' creative methodology for producing "brave, unique dishes that celebrate flavours and textures."
The list showcases the remarkable strength of the UK's culinary scene beyond the capital. A significant regional concentration is evident, with ten establishments located in North Yorkshire, seven in Cumbria, and six in Edinburgh. SquareMeal produces a separate top 100 list exclusively for London restaurants, meaning all venues featured in this national ranking are situated outside the capital.
Industry Resilience and the Full Top 100
Commenting on the state of the sector, SquareMeal experts noted: “It's no secret that the UK's restaurant sector is facing formidable challenges. And yet, with each year that passes, hospitality professionals continue to invest everything they have into projects for the love of what they do.” This dedication is reflected in the diverse and high-quality establishments celebrated in the 2026 ranking.
The complete list of SquareMeal's Top 100 UK Restaurants (outside London) for 2026 is as follows:
- Wilsons (Bristol)
- Skof (Manchester)
- Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms (Nottingham)
- Vraic (Guernsey)
- L'Enclume (Westmorland and Furness)
- Grace & Savour (Solihull)
- The Greyhound Beaconsfield (Buckinghamshire)
- JÖRO (Sheffield)
- Pine (Northumberland)
- Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms (West Lancashire)
- Ynyshir (Ceredigion)
- Restaurant 22 (Cambridge)
- Lyla (City of Edinburgh)
- Woven by Adam Smith (Windsor and Maidenhead)
- Upstairs at Landrace (Bath and North East Somerset)
- Myse (North Yorkshire)
- Updown Farmhouse (Dover)
- Osip (Somerset)
- The Little Chartroom (City of Edinburgh)
- The Kinneuchar Inn (Fife)
- Opheem (Birmingham)
- The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant (Perth and Kinross)
- The Old Stamp House (Westmorland and Furness)
- Lark (West Suffolk)
- Tallow (Tunbridge Wells)
- The Angel at Hetton (North Yorkshire)
- Alchemilla Nottingham (Nottingham)
- Dogstar Edinburgh (City of Edinburgh)
- Heft (Westmorland and Furness)
- Argoe Newlyn (Cornwall)
- Stow (Manchester)
- Juliet (Stroud)
- Bavette (Leeds)
- Paul Ainsworth at No 6 (Cornwall)
- Hansom (North Yorkshire)
- Vetch (Liverpool)
- Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall (North Yorkshire)
- The Sportsman (Canterbury)
- The Shed (Swansea)
- The Parkers Arms (Ribble Valley)
- Higher Ground (Manchester)
- Moss (City of Edinburgh)
- Meadowsweet (North Norfolk)
- The Pony Chew Valley (Bath and North East Somerset)
- Dongnae (Bristol)
- Gorse Cardiff (Cardiff)
- The Barn at Moor Hall (West Lancashire)
- Fish Shop Ballater (Aberdeenshire)
- OTHER (Bristol)
- Winsome (Manchester)
- The Wilderness (Birmingham)
- Restaurant Interlude (Horsham)
- The Pass at South Lodge (Horsham)
- Furna (Brighton and Hove)
- Big Counter (Glasgow City)
- Roots York (York)
- The Swine Bistro (Leeds)
- Seasonality (Windsor and Maidenhead)
- The Muddlers Club (Belfast)
- The Abbey Inn Byland (North Yorkshire)
- The Forest Side (Westmorland and Furness)
- The Cottage in the Wood (Cumberland)
- The Greyhound Inn - Pettistree (East Suffolk)
- Root Bath (Bath and North East Somerset)
- Upstairs by Tom Shepherd (Lichfield)
- Forge at Middleton Lodge (North Yorkshire)
- Maré by Rafael Cagali (Brighton and Hove)
- Waterman Bistro (Belfast)
- Gwen (Powys)
- Bybrook Restaurant at The Manor House (Wiltshire)
- Wild at Bull Burford (West Oxfordshire)
- The Black Swan at Oldstead (North Yorkshire)
- Cedar Tree by Hrishikesh Desai (Cumberland)
- Long Friday (Newcastle upon Tyne)
- Aven (Preston)
- Olive Tree Bath (Bath and North East Somerset)
- Emilia (Teignbridge)
- The Jackdaw Conwy (Conwy)
- Manifest (Liverpool)
- Shwen Shwen (Sevenoaks)
- Catch at The Old Fish Market (Dorset)
- Riverine Rabbit (Birmingham)
- Amari (Brighton and Hove)
- Ardfern (City of Edinburgh)
- The Blue Pelican (Dover)
- Skosh (York)
- 670 Grams (Birmingham)
- The Coach Marlow (Buckinghamshire)
- Gloriosa (Glasgow City)
- Cardinal Edinburgh (City of Edinburgh)
- The Victoria Oxshott (Elmbridge)
- Briar (Somerset)
- Bench Sheffield (Sheffield)
- Henrock at Linthwaite House (Westmorland and Furness)
- Lapin Restaurant Bristol (Bristol)
- The Suffolk (East Suffolk)
- Tharavadu (Leeds)
- Belzan Liverpool (Liverpool)
- The Oarsman (Buckinghamshire)
- Legacy at The Grand, York (York)
