Simon Radley at The Chester Grosvenor is a star for the 20th year in a row

Jan 22 2010 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

THE Chester Grosvenor hotel’s fine dining restaurant has retained a much coveted Michelin star for the 20th year in a row.

Simon Radley at The Chester Grosvenor is one of only four restaurants in the UK to have been awarded one or more Michelin stars for the past 20 years.

And the restaurant, named after its highly respected executive chef, is the only one to have been awarded ‘rising two stars’ status in 2010.

Executive chef Simon Radley said: “For the restaurant to be tipped as a 'rising two star' is obviously a large boost to the whole team.

“We have been quietly plugging away, doing our thing and I think it gives us added direction.”

Simon added: “There is an air of excitement in the hotel but essentially it will be business as usual and a great deal of hard work ahead to ensure that standards are upheld and where possible exceeded.”

The gourmet restaurant, within the five star hotel, serves French cuisine with a contemporary flavour. The menu is complemented by one of the most extensive wine cellars in England boasting more than 1,000 bins.

The Michelin Guide states: “These rising star restaurants are the best in their category and could move up to the next category once they have demonstrated greater consistency over time and across the entire menu, they are the gourmet dining ‘stars’ of tomorrow.”

Derek Bulmer, editor of the Michelin Guides, explained: “Within the one star category there is quite a lot of variation, from those that have just received one to those that sit solidly in the middle and those that are pushing towards the two-star mark. The rising stars show readers who’s at the top end of each category. It gives them a bit more information.”