Staffordshire has gained a second Michelin-starred restaurant, cementing Lichfield as a top spot for dining experiences.
The Boat restaurant and micro farm has won its first Michelin Star and was announced as Michelin revealed its latest guide at a ceremony held in Dublin on Monday.
It is one of 20 eateries to have been newly awarded one Michelin Star and joins Upstairs by Tom Shepherd, also in Lichfield, which has retained its Michelin Star for a fifth year.
The Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026 features 1,210 recommended restaurants, of which 10 have three stars, 28 have two and 192 have one.
The Boat, run by chef Liam Dillion has evolved from a smart roadside hostelry to a ‘proper dining destination.’
The Guide praises the use of ‘top-drawer ingredients’ treated with ‘a skilled, detailed approach’ and says the whole experience is ‘elevated by smooth, engaging service and dish descriptions from the chefs.’
Dishes include tender Staffordshire venison with smoked beetroot or Amalfi lemon parfait with their own fragrant honey.
A Michelin Guide spokesperson said: “The Boat’s star is the culmination of years of development by chef Liam Dillion.
“His intricate dishes spotlight superb local produce, plus some from his own micro farm.’”
Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of The Michelin Guides said: “In a year filled with challenges and turbulence in the industry, chefs and restauranteurs have once again shown their admirable resilience and innovation.
“This is reflected in a record number of restaurants being added to the Great Britain & Ireland Guide this year.
“Our newly awarded restaurants, including a pair of new Two-Star eateries and 20 establishments receiving One Michelin Star will rightly make headlines for their exceptional cooking.”
- Staffordshire has seven restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026 – The Boat, Upstairs by Tom Shepherd, the Duncombe Arms, The Flintlock, Little Seeds, Lunar and Larder Brasserie and Grill.
