Liverpool has once again missed out on the Michelin Awards in 2024.
Restaurants in Liverpool city centre eagerly awaited results last night to discover whether any restaurants would gain or retain Michelin stars. However, it was a disappointing outcome, with no new stars being awarded.
Aughton, around 30 minutes from the centre, is host to three Michelin star restaurants: The Barn, Sō–Lō and Moor Hall. They managed to retain their stars, but this did not cushion the blow of no new additions to the list.
The awards have been criticised due to Liverpool being ‘overlooked’, both by Michelin as well as by the National Restaurant Awards, with only Manifest in the Baltic Triangle receiving formal recognition.
People on X (formerly Twitter) have voiced criticism, such as a recent tweet asking if they even tried any of the restaurants:
Many of the award-winners are based in London, with not a single restaurant in Liverpool or Manchester being awarded a star.
Locals believe that restaurants such as Belzan and Röski – which currently feature in the Michelin Guide – should have received a coveted star, along with small independent restaurants such as Casa Italia and Maray.
In a recent poll, 75% of people believe that Liverpool was snubbed by the Michelin Guide due to long-standing bias against the city.
Whilst the city has progressed in many ways, becoming the European Capital of Culture in 2008, there is criticism that the city still faces disadvantage due to reputation and stereotyping that has been present since the policies of Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.
The handful of Liverpool-based restaurants that feature in the Michelin Guide appear to have swallowed their disappointment and are planning to improve in anticipation of next year’s awards.
