Nottingham hopefuls are keeping their fingers crossed for a win at the annual British Restaurant Awards, billed as the "culinary extravaganza of the year". The nominees include two restaurants and a young chef, who has made a name for herself both locally and nationally after appearances on MasterChef: The Professionals and Great British Menu. Michelin-starred Alchemilla is in the running for Restaurant of the Year.
The fine dining restaurant in Derby Road, Nottingham, faces tough competition from the nine other contenders in the category, including three Michelin-starred L’Enclume in the Lake District. and Pine in Northumberland where ingredients are often foraged and grown in its on-site gardens. Alex Bond, the chef patron at Alchemilla, delivers a unique tasting menu with dishes such as mushroom, caramelised ham cream, teriyaki and yeast and chalk stream trout, squid, xo and Amelia tomato.
Since opening, the restaurant within a once-derelict Victorian carriage house, has won a string of accolades. Get the latest What's On news straight to your phone by joining us on WhatsApp Award-winning restaurant No. Twelve is hoping to add another honour to its haul.
The restaurant, at Eldon Chambers, is up for Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurant against other finalists from London, Manchester, Liverpool and Brighton. The restaurant, run by Ritchie and Lauren Stainsby, prides itself on serving imaginative dishes with flair. The small plates making vegetables the star of the show include cauliflower cheese with gochujang and celeriac, corn and chimichurri.
Another finalist is Louisa Ellis, who is in the running for Best Young Chef. The former MasterChef: The Professionals champion is up against stiff competition from rivals including Jake Jones, of Yorkshire, who was named Michelin Young Chef of the Year 2024, and Damien Wager, a self-taught pastry chef famed for his entertaining creations. Louisa was recently announced as the resident chef at Destination 105 , a food-focused event experience located within a former church in Trent Boulevard, Lady Bay.
She said: "I was shocked to find out I've been nominated and still in denial to even be on the list. They are all incredible chefs so it will be a tough one to call. I’m just honoured to be on the list.
" Other finalists in the sixth annual awards include Gordon Ramsay, Claude Bosi, Aldo Zilli and Ainsley Harriott who are up for Best Chef. The category for Best Restaurant Chain features a number with sites in Nottingham including Las Iguanas, German Doner Kebab, YO! Sushi, Wagamama, Nando’s and Zizzi. he ceremony will take place at the Crown London Hotel on August 28.
The winners will be revealed at a public vote and fans can support them here. Voting closes on August 26. A spokesperson said: "In a celebration that promises to be bigger, bolder, and more delicious than ever, the BRA has pulled back the curtain on an extraordinary line-up of nominees across a delectable array of categories.
From Best New Restaurant and Best Chef to Best Luxury Restaurant and Restaurant of the Year, the BRA nominations stand as a testament to the outstanding culinary prowess that graces every corner of the UK.".
