A pub has become the first in London to win a Michelin star.
The award for the Harwood Arms near Fulham Broadway puts it on a par with fine dining establishments such as the River Cafe, Nobu and Tom Aikens - a breakthrough for gastropubs.
The management took over just a year and a half ago. Head chef Stephen Williams, 27, said the award was as a huge surprise:"We're a bit blown away and rather nervous. I hope people don't expect a lot of pampering and all the extra you get at a fine dining establishments.
"We just serve good food in a pub environment, we try to keep the pub status, we let football fans in on Chelsea match days."
The pub specialises in seasonal British food. "That's what gets me excited, taking wierd old British classics of which there are as many as French classics. It is just history that has pushed French food ahead," said Mr Williams.
Other surprises in the list, accidentally published four days before schedule, include a third star for Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, making it only one of two restaurants in London with the top accolade. The other is held by the French chef's rival Gordon Ramsay.
But the number of stars held by the Ramsay empire fell as Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's lost its single star.
