290. Ludlow Michelin Restaurants Since 1996.

Previous editions of this Blog have featured items and reports about my visits to Ludlow, a town which plays a remarkable role, given the town’s size, in the history of West Midlands dining out. In the early 2000s it was home to one Two star Michelin restaurant and two one star restaurants. Although its golden era has, for the present at least, seemingly passed, the town still has a disproportionately large number of Michelin-listed and Good Food Guide-mentioned restaurants. It is also important as the first British town to have staged an annual Food Festival and this splendid and popular event, based within Ludlow Castle grounds, remains an important occasion both for the town, food producers and for food lovers.

Ludlow’s appearances in the Michelin Guide -

1974 - 1995 - no restaurants mentioned apart from noting that some listed hotels provide dining.

The Merchant House - 1996*, 1997*, 1998*, 1999*, 2000*, 2002*, 2003*, 2004*, 2005*

Chef Patron Shaun Hill.

Oaks - 1996, 1997B, 1998B, 1999B, 2000B

Chef and restaurateurs- Ken and Isabel Adams, restaurant located at 17 Corve Street. This was subsequently to become the location of Hibiscus, La Becasse and most recently, Mortimers (see below). Its name was derived from the oak panelling in the restaurant which can be seen today when dining at Mortimers.

Courtyard - 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

Mr Underhill’s At Dinham Weir 1999*B, 2000*B, 2001*, 2001*, 2002*, 2003*, 2004*, 2005*, 2006*, 2007* 2008, 2009*, 2010*, 2011*, 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2015*, 2016*

Chef Patron - Chris Bradley 1997-2016.

Overton Grange 2000*

The Head Chef was Claude Bosi from 1999-2000 (he had worked there since 1997 as sous chef) and during his time there the hotel’s restaurant was awarded 1 Michelin star which it held for a single year. When Bosi left Overton Grange he opened the restaurant Hibiscus on Corve Street which was rapidly awarded 1 Michelin star (see below).