See page 3 Restaurant earns Bath’s only Michelin star

An independent Bath restaurant and its head chef have been flooded with congratulations after winning a Michelin star, marking its culinary excellence. The Olive Tree was awarded the accolade in the Michelin Guide 2019. A star means “high quality cooking, worth a stop”. In a tweet the Michelin Guide praised the “charming Bath townhouse” restaurant and its head chef Chris Cleghorn “for his dishes with depth and flavour”. The restaurant in Russell Street offers five and seven-course menus; as well as two courses for £26 or three for £32.50 between Friday and Sunday. There are vegetarian, vegan and dairy versions of the ‘seven’ menu and diners can also enjoy canapes, cheeses or wine. The 60-seat Olive Tree is run by husband-and-wife Laurence and Helen Beere and is a part of the couple’s Queensberry Hotel. They reference the surrounding countryside location as being home to “muscular, well-fed animals” and an “abundance of fruit and vegetables”. The restaurant uses these “local riches to create a frequently-changing menu of beautiful, fresh, seasonal dishes”. The accolade from Michelin adds to its three rosettes with the AA. It is a huge boost to Bath’s culinary scene as some cities and towns literally dine out on the number of Michelin star restaurants they can boast. It can be a further badge of pride for the affluent city of Bath which attracts tourists from all over the world, as well as an attraction for locals who love their food and wine. It leaves the Olive Tree standing alone as the only restaurant in the city with a Michelin star. Bath Priory in Weston Road held the accolade until the 2018 awards. The awarding of a star to a restaurant is heavily influenced by its head chef. Before moving to the Olive Tree, Mr Cleghorn worked under a trio of famous and Michelin-starred chefs – Heston Blumenthal, Michael Caines and Adam Simmonds. The star seemingly indicates the protege has become the master. Michelin Guides international director Gwendal Poullennec said: “With so many world-renowned chefs, and London having one of the most diverse selections of cuisine types available anywhere in the world, the UK is a major gastronomic destination for travellers and foodies alike. “With this in mind, the latest Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland perfectly reflects the strength, depth and diversity of the culinary landscape here.” Nearby Bristol has four restaurants with one Michelin star wilk’s, Paco Tapas, Casamia and new-entrant Bulrush. Guide director Rebecca Burr said: “Everyone is aware of the obvious challenges currently facing the industry, but we’ve been encouraged by the number of new stars that we’ve awarded in the 2019 edition. “What is particularly pleasing is seeing the number of simple little places with great food achieving a star and joining the Michelin family, like Bulrush in Bristol and Salt in Stratford-upon-avon.” Numerous residents tweeted their congratulations after the news was announced. Owners Laurence and Helen said in a tweet: “Amazingly proud of Chris and the incredible team. Been an amazing journey so far chef!!” They added: “They have worked so hard for all our guests, they truly deserve this!!” Ross Melling wrote: “Incredible achievement. I really couldn’t be happier for you. Your great commitment and perseverance is a lesson for us all.” James Hughes said: “Amazing!! Congratulations!! About time central Bath had a star!!”