The Good Food Guide has released its first-ever ranked list of the UK's best neighbourhood restaurants, with La Locanda in Gisburn, Lancashire, claiming the top spot. The annual list, traditionally unranked, now orders the nation's finest local dining spots from one to 100, celebrating exceptional cooking in informal settings.
La Locanda Takes the Crown
La Locanda, an Italian trattoria run by Cinzia and Maurizio Bocchi, has been named the best neighbourhood restaurant in the country. Cinzia Bocchi expressed her joy, saying: "My heart is exploding. I think this is the biggest achievement we have had in 23 years." The restaurant has been a beloved fixture in the village, known for its authentic Italian cuisine and warm hospitality.
Diverse Winners Across the UK
The list features a wide range of eateries, from Cantina Caruso in Margate, Kent, which took second place, to Ar Bòrd on the Isle of Mull in third. Other notable entries include Gina in Chingford, London, at fourth, and The Black Bear Inn in Bettws Newydd, Monmouthshire, rounding out the top five. The full list of 100 restaurants spans from Cornwall to the Highlands, showcasing the breadth of local dining excellence.
Creative Survival in Tough Times
According to the Good Food Guide, over a quarter of the restaurants on this year's list operate secondary businesses to stay afloat. Examples include 101 Bridport in Dorset, where Jess and Connie Booth run a florist and growers business during the week and transform their industrial unit into a restaurant on weekends. In Dundee, Eastfield operates as a café by day and switches to restaurant mode on Friday and Saturday evenings. Logma, an Iranian-Iraqi café in Hackney, London, serves as a restaurant only on select evenings with communal seating.
Shift Away from Tasting Menus
The guide notes a trend away from expensive tasting menus, with top chefs embracing more relaxed formats. Seafood expert Nathan Outlaw has closed his high-end flagship to serve freshly landed lobster at a simpler, budget-friendly bistro in Port Isaac. In Cardiff, Tom Simmons replaced his multi-course tasting menu with good-value set lunch deals and daily specials at Thomas the Brasserie, achieving significant success.
Comment from the Good Food Guide
Chloë Hamilton of the Good Food Guide said of this year's list: "In the face of adversity, creativity has flourished in unusual and unlikely places. It has been hugely rewarding to see how these tiny operations are offering outstanding quality in a way that so clearly strikes a chord with the local crowd. Arrive with an open mind and a good appetite and you’ll be brilliantly rewarded."
Full List of Top 10 Neighbourhood Restaurants
- 1. La Locanda, Gisburn, Lancashire
- 2. Cantina Caruso, Margate, Kent
- 3. Ar Bòrd, Isle of Mull, Highlands & Islands
- 4. Gina, Chingford, London
- 5. The Black Bear Inn, Bettws Newydd, Monmouthshire
- 6. Tiella Trattoria, Bethnal Green, London
- 7. Wangs, Bristol
- 8. Wild, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
- 9. Almanac, Glossop, Derbyshire
- 10. Black Wheat Club, York, North Yorkshire
