Two West Midlands restaurants awarded Michelin Stars on proud night for our region's cuisine
A pair of West Midlands restaurants are celebrating hard-earned new Michelin Stars after a glittering ceremony in Dublin.
The Boat near Lichfield and The Wilderness in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter were among the 20 British and Irish restaurants awarded Michelin One-Star status on Monday (February 9).
Two new Two-Star restaurants were also named at the Michelin Guide Ceremony Great Britain & Ireland 2026 at the Convention Centre in Dublin.
Of The Boat, off Walsall Road, The Michelin Guide judgment said: "The Boat has been in The Michelin Guide’s selection for over a decade and has now made the leap to Star level.
"It’s a testament to the constant evolution of chef Liam Dillon’s cooking, which the inspectors found to have reached new levels of finesse. His dishes are detailed and showcase excellent produce from local suppliers, including some from the on-site ‘micro farm’.
"The charming service enhances the experience."
Writing soon after its Star status was confirmed, the team said on The Boat's Instagram page: "We’re still in shock as we write this and can’t quite process it all... For now we’re going to celebrate and enjoy some champagne!
"Thank you for all the love so far!"
The page's bio now proudly displays its Michelin Star.
Learn more at https://theboat.restaurant/.
Meanwhile the guide's judgment said of The Wilderness: "Dining at The Wilderness in Birmingham has always been an immersive experience, with its dark colours, cool vibe and complete absence of pomp – but don’t think for one moment that this isn’t an exceedingly well-run restaurant.
"Alex Claridge’s cooking has always come with superb ingredients, plenty of originality and clever balancing of flavours and textures; now the dishes also boast a confident refinement and maturity."
Alex Claridge said on Monday night that Birmingham “doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it is serious about food”.
The team at The Wilderness wrote on Instagram: "The Wilderness ONE MICHELIN STAR 2026 baby! To those who have played their part, I love you, you know who you are. Brum forever."
Learn more about The Wilderness at https://www.wearethewilderness.co.uk/.
See all the other restaurants awarded Stars this year at guide.michelin.com.
