Pentonbridge Inn has been awarded its first Michelin star

A Cumbrian restaurant now ranks among the best in the world after being awarded its first Michelin star.

Pentonbridge Inn, near Carlisle, was handed the prestigious accolade in the 2023 edition of the Michelin Guide which was released this week.

It brings a first Michelin star to Carlisle, with Pentonbridge Inn now one of 11 Michelin starred restaurants in Cumbria.

Chris Archer, Head Chef at Pentonbridge Inn, said: “As a chef, it’s something that you hope and dream about for your entire career and it’s down to the dedication and hard work of the whole team that we have achieved it together at Pentonbridge.

“The quality of the food and drink in Cumbria has made it a must-visit destination for people across the UK and beyond and it makes me very proud that Pentonbridge is now included alongside the other Michelin starred restaurants in the county such as The Cottage in the Wood, The Old Stamp House and L’Enclume.

“I’m delighted for the whole team who work so hard to deliver an exceptional service for every one of our guests.”

The new Michelin starred restaurants included in the Great Britain & Ireland Michelin Guide were announced at a ceremony held at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire on Monday evening (March 27).

Chris and sous chef Arran Seymour were at the awards where Chris was the first to be invited on stage to receive a Michelin star. He was presented with the signature Michelin white jacket and a video was shown of the chef learning he had won a Michelin star while in the kitchen at Pentonbridge Inn. A white jacket had been hidden in a delivery of vegetables.

Pentonbridge Inn was one of 10 one Michelin star restaurants in Cumbria included in the 2023 guide, with L’Enclume at Cartmel retaining its three Michelin stars. A total of 20 restaurants across Great Britain and Ireland won their first Michelin stars this year, including Heft at Newton-in-Cartmel and The Samling near Ambleside, which are also based in Cumbria.

Pentonbridge Inn, which sits in countryside close to the Scottish Border at Penton in north Cumbria, offers a set tasting menu featuring ingredients sourced from the restored walled garden of its sister business, Netherby Hall, a historic stately home in nearby Longtown.

Chris works closely with the garden team at Netherby Hall to source the fruit, herbs and vegetables for the seasonally-inspired dishes, as well as working with quality suppliers from across Cumbria.

Chris has been Head Chef at Pentonbridge Inn for four years and honed his modern British style of cooking through working at Michelin-starred and AA Rosette restaurants across the UK including Winteringham Fields, Midsummer House and The Cottage in the Wood, near Keswick, where he took on his first head chef role in 2014.

The front-of-house team at Pentonbridge Inn is led by General Manager Ross Bell, with the restaurant-with-rooms owned by Gerald and Margo Smith, who also operate luxury self-catering cottages and apartments at Netherby Hall.

Pentonbridge Inn holds three-AA Rosettes. It was named Newcomer of the Year in the Good Hotel Guide’s 2019 César Awards and picked up an Editor’s Choice Award for pub-with-rooms in 2022.

The restaurant received a glowing review from food writer and presenter Grace Dent in The Guardian in December 2022.