RESTAURANT GORDON RAMSAY SCORES 10/10

Chef Patron Clare Smyth of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay has become the first woman in 15 years to achieve a perfect score in the Good Food Guide to Britain’s top restaurants.

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea — the flagship for Gordon’s global business is one of three restaurants to receive 10 out of 10 in the 64th issue of the guide.

It is topped for the second year  running by Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume in Cumbria with second place taken by Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire.

The top 10 includes five restaurants in the capital — Hibiscus, Pollen Street Social, The Square and  The Ledbury, as well as Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in third place.

Clare said she was “absolutely overjoyed” at the accolade: “I have personally referenced the Good Food Guide for places to eat for years and value their opinion as it’s the customers’ opinion. Like all restaurants we are one big team and my team here is tremendous, so a huge thank you from every one of us.”

Gordon said: “Clare is an incredible chef and I am, and have always been, very proud of her and all the team at the restaurant. It’s great to see them receive the recognition they deserve.”

Elizabeth Carter, consultant editor of the guide which is now published by Waitrose, said Ms Smyth received support from “one of the best front-of-house teams in the UK” With her brilliantly artistic, elegant, modern French cooking, she perfectly complements the witty, cerebral Fat Duck and the sensual farm-to-table delights of L’Enclume at the pinnacle of our list,” she added. It is the first time in 15 years that three restaurants have scored full marks. In 1999, that honour was shared by Marco Pierre White’s Oak Room, Nico Ladenis at Chez Nico and female chef Gunn Eriksen at the Altnaharrie Inn at Loch Broom, Ullapool, in Scotland. The guide is compiled by experts on public recommendations and also includes pubs and cafés.