Restaurant of the Year Finalists 2026/7
The top public vote-winners:
Restaurant of the Year 2026/7: John’s House
John’s House in Mountsorrel is our Great Food Club Restaurant of the Year 2026/7.
Set in a 16th-century farmhouse at Stonehurst Farm, John’s House combines ambitious, precise cooking with a direct connection to the land around it. Chef-owner John Duffin grew up here and returned to the family farm after working with leading chefs including Simon Rogan and Marcus Wareing.
The restaurant has built a formidable reputation while retaining a strong sense of place. John’s cooking puts herbs and vegetables on equal terms with meat and fish, with much of the produce grown by the team just a short walk from the kitchen.
Our judging lunch began with a refreshing cordial made with homegrown shiso, an aromatic herb somewhere between basil, mint and tarragon. It set the tone for a meal in which produce from the farm and garden played a central role.
Homemade bread followed, along with a beautifully presented selection of appetisers including venison salami and tomatoes picked from the garden.
From there, Cornish cod and Stonehurst Tamworth pork showcased cooking of exceptional skill and confidence. The plates looked striking but never felt designed for appearance alone. Flavour led throughout, with vegetables, herbs, sauces and garnishes all earning their place.
There are restaurants where the food is technically impressive. John’s House goes further: the food also brings genuine pleasure. Every course felt thoughtful and sophisticated without losing the simple aim of being delicious.
John’s House continues to hold its place as Leicestershire’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, but its award here is based on what our judges experienced at the table. The sense of place, outstanding produce, assured cooking, warm service and individuality of the restaurant made it stand out during this year’s judging.
John’s House is a worthy Great Food Club Restaurant of the Year 2026/7.
The other finalists
The Noel’s Arms, Melton Mowbray
The Noel’s Arms gave our judges an outstanding meal, from the opening canapés and pub-baked bread through to the homemade petits fours. The cooking showed precision from start to finish, backed by excellent presentation and warm, confident service.
The 200-year-old former coaching inn has been carefully restored as a food-led town-centre pub. Its kitchen concentrates on seasonal, ingredient-led British cooking, working with respected suppliers and local farms while retaining the character and approachability of a pub.
The Noel’s Arms was a strong finalist and showed just how high the standard was in this year’s Restaurant of the Year category.
Skein, Nottingham
Skein is a lovely, simple and stylish Nottingham restaurant. Our judging lunch combined good cooking with great service and a relaxed atmosphere. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience from start to finish.
San Pietro, Scunthorpe
San Pietro combines refined Sicilian cooking with warm, family-led hospitality in its striking converted windmill. Our lunch showed exactly why it has become a destination restaurant: confident cooking, polished service and food well worth travelling for.
Congratulations to John’s House, The Noel’s Arms, Skein and San Pietro on reaching the Great Food Club Awards 2026/7 Restaurant of the Year final.
