People have been left gobsmacked after discovering a little-known feature about a common McDonald’s item – but some say it makes perfect sense and should be used more often
It turns out the vast majority of diners across the world have been using its sauce cups incorrectly, as many simply pour the condiment into the clip and dip their fries into it without making any alterations to the pot. However, a Reddit user claims you’re meant to flatten out the pot, saying it has a fan-like design for a reason. A woman said: “My daughter insists that flattening the sauce cup in McDonald’s is the correct way. I think she’s barbaric.”
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Commenting on her post, one user said: “I blew a kid’s mind with this. He was carefully filling his third pot when I made mine into a bowl and filled it with barbecue… His surprised Pikachu look was priceless.”
Another user added: “If you flatten it out halfway, it’s still cup-shaped but can hold more sauce.”
A third user said: “You’ve reached the day when you are certain your child is brighter than you. Embrace it. How are you getting a nugget in your way?”
One more user added: “Your daughter is correct. Also, if you go somewhere like Chopstix that uses those cardboard boxes, you can fold them out into a plate to make them easier to eat from.”
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It comes after a former McDonald’s worker explained why the chain’s milkshake machine always seems to be ‘broken’.
Mike Haracz, who was a corporate chef at McDonald’s until 2019, has been sharing behind-the-scenes secrets on his TikTok channel. One of these includes the reason why the fast-food chain’s milkshake machine is often out of order.
In one of his recent videos, he quotes a viewer’s comment: “I work at McDonald’s. They [the milkshake machine] are most probably not broken. We just don’t want to add the mix if it’s busy. If it’s not [busy], then they’re just hating.”
Serving a milkshake or McFlurry when the machine needs refilling requires a crew member to fetch the right mix from a fridge at the back of the store, add it to the machine, and run it until it comes out as expected.
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This can take quite a bit of time and isn’t ideal when customers are waiting both in-store and at the drive-thru. That’s when you’re likely to hear, “sorry, the milkshake machine is broken”.
But this isn’t the only reason an employee might fib about the machine’s status. It could also be undergoing a cleaning cycle, or they simply might not know how to put it back together after its cleaning cycle the night before.
As The Press reported, cameras started rolling in St Mary’s, off Bootham, on Monday morning (February 9).
Crew members set up cameras and tents in the residential street with the filming appearing to focus on a guest house near the Marygate car park end of the street. They also set up a base in Marygate car park.
Filming for new thriller, Scorn, gets underway in St Mary’s, off Bootham in York, on Monday (February 9) (Image: Dylan Connell)
The film crew is due to be in St Mary’s until Friday, with the street closed until then.
It has now been confirmed that the crew is filming new erotic thriller, Scorn.
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Adria Arjona (Image: Kevin Berru)
Topic Studios, the company behind the film, said it features Adria Arjona and Kingsley Ben-Adir.
Arjona, who has starred in Father of the Bride, Hit Man and Blink Twice, was spotted having lunch with her boyfriend, the Hollywood actor Jason Momoa, at the Whippet Inn last month.
Aquaman star Jason Momoa, left, with Whippet Inn owner Martin Bridge after the actor called for lunch in York on Friday, January 30 (Image: Whippet Inn)
The American couple were described as an “absolute delight” by the restaurant’s assistant general manager, Taylor Lloyd, who served them.
Ben-Adir, meanwhile, played Bob Marley in the Bob Marley: One Love biopic, and also featured in Barbie.
Kingsley Ben-Adir (Image: Supplied)
Filming for Scorn, directed and written by Sarah-Violet Bliss, has already taken place in Leeds.
The film will follow a woman who begins a passionate affair with a married man. “When he then tries to re-cast their love as just a fling, she refuses to go away quietly,” a press release issued by Topic Studios said.
Topic Studios said it is fully financing and producing the film alongside Dylan Clark – producer of the Penguin and The Batman: Part I and Part II – and Brian Williams, as well as Aftersun director Amy Jackson.
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Sarah-Violet Bliss (Image: Sela Shiloni)
The studio said it has produced more than 40 film and television projects earning 10 Academy Award nominations, 10 Golden Globe nominations and 12 Emmy nominations.
Its recent projects include Alex Fischer and Eleanor Wilson’s Wicker, starring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård; Michael Angelo Covino’s Splitsville, starring Covino, Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona and Kyle Marvin; and Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain, starring Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin. Topic Studios also produced HBO’s 100 Foot Wave, as well as acclaimed documentaries It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley; and the Oscar-shortlisted Folktales.
The film will be the latest to feature York as its backdrop.
A second series of Patience, the Channel 4 crime drama set in York, aired at the start of the year.
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Filming for festive movie Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint, starring Richard E. Grant, Celia Imrie and Adjoa Andoh, also took over streets in York city centre last November.
Former Ballon d’Or winner Ruud Gullit (Picture: Getty)
Former Ballon d’Or winner Ruud Gullit hailed two Arsenal players after the Gunners’ continued their Premier League title charge with an emphatic win over Sunderland.
The Gunners have matchwinners all over the pitch but ex-Chelsea captain Gullit picked out England star Noni Madueke and his Dutch compatriot Jurrien Timber for special praise.
‘One player I really like at Arsenal is Jurrien Timber,’ Gullit told Gambling Insider. ‘He is very strong and looks convincing in everything he does.
‘He is a fantastic player and one of the finest in the division, which you have to be to be a regular starter in Arsenal’s defence at the moment.
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Jurrien Timber after Arsenal’s win over Sunderland (Picture: Getty)
‘I saw him in the youth teams at Ajax and he was always a good, strong player. I like the way he plays.
‘He doesn’t moan, he gets on with his job and is a real team player. As well as that, he is so clever tactically and talented technically.
‘He had a real setback with that long-term injury when he first joined Arsenal, but he has bounced back from that and adapted to the Premier League so well.’
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Timber has established himself as a key member of Mikel Arteta’s squad since recovering from his long injury lay-off, playing in all but one of Arsenal’s league games so far this season.
‘Noni Madueke is a good player, but he is having to play second fiddle to Bukayo Saka when both players are fit,’ Gullit added.
‘If both are fit, Madueke is on the bench. When he is on the pitch, however, he is very handy and always a big threat, and I actually think one thing that stands out about him is how hard he works.
‘As much as I think he is dangerous on the ball, I think it goes unnoticed how good he is off it, helping the team. He is doing well at Arsenal and has been a really good signing for them.’
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Arsenal will hope to continue their march towards the Premier League trophy on Thursday when they face London rivals Brentford.
“They generally put themselves last, they put their animals first, and they don’t know how to switch off.”
A man from Northern Ireland has urged other farmers to treat their mental health as seriously as they would physical safety on the farm, as farmer wellbeing is at its lowest point in four years.
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The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) is marking its ninth annual Mind Your Head week from February 9 to 13, by looking at tackling the issue of suicide risk in the UK agricultural industry.
The campaign is calling on farmers, rural organisations, colleges and Young Farmers Clubs to start life-saving conversations, learn practical skills and connect communities to support – addressing what many now recognise as the industry’s “biggest hidden problem.”
Gyles Dawson from Co Armagh has been working in the agri-business sector for over 30 years, is a part-time farmer, and works for the charity Rural Support to ensure agricultural workers in Northern Ireland have the support they need.
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He said the demand for help regarding mental wellbeing is “rising sharply.” In the year 2024-2025, Rural Support received 446 calls through their confidential support helpline, a 22% increase on the previous year, with the most common age group being those from 45-54.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Gyles said: “The most alarming thing is two in five of those calls are people showing suicial ideation, which is very concerning. The top concerns we are seeing are financial difficulties, mental health struggles, succession planning, and weather issues.
“We have seen a 55% increase in counselling referrals and a 54% rise in the overall business mentoring support we provide. There is an awful lot for farmers to navigate, but we can work alongside them to offer support.”
He said Rural Support are proud to support the Mind Your Head campaign, adding that farmers need to reach out for help when they need it, and must treat their mental wellbeing as seriously as physical safety on the farm.
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Gyles added: “Farming is hard work, seven days a week, with many farmers working 60+ hours a week. Many are struggling with rural isolation, alongside financial stress and uncertainty.
“Weather makes a significant difference to farming practises. Then you have family succession pressures, and unfortunately 91% of farmers now see mental health as one of the biggest hidden challenges in the industry.
“In bygone days, farmers would have had employees to help out on the farm. Mechanisation has helped tremendously, but the issue now is because farm incomes over the past two years have not been so good, you’re finding a lot of farms are having to cut back on employee labour. They’re working longer hours themselves, which causes a rise in fatigue and the possibility of farm accidents increasing.
“Farmers generally put themselves last, they put their animals first, and they don’t know how to switch off. They are very resilient people and will go a long way before they actually go out and ask for help.”
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The latest research from the Farm Safety Foundation found that overall wellbeing within the farming community lags behind the UK general population and has fallen to its lowest point in four years. This is measured by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), a widely used national measure of positive mental health.
Mental wellbeing among farmers over 40 years old hits a four-year low, with the sharpest decline being among those aged 61 – historically the most resilient group. Until recently, this age group consistently reported mental wellbeing levels above the UK average – a sign of resilience in one of the toughest professions. But that resilience is now under severe strain.
As for the support provided by the charity Rural Support in Northern Ireland, Gyles said: “We provide support through community-based counselling and business mentoring, we will go out to a farm and provide that support there.
“Farmers feel safe in their own environment, and if we can meet them in their own environment, then that tends to drop the barriers a little bit more, and they feel more open to talk, and it combats that rural isolation part as well.
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“We also have a crisis support and non-crisis support platform. So the crisis support platform consists of business mentors and mental health counsellors who provide that service directly on farm to farmers, and then we have sort of the non-crisis side of things which is the likes of Plough On groups which are to combat loneliness.”
Stephanie Berkeley, Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, said: “Over the past nine years, we have made significant strides in raising awareness and improving education around mental health. However, when it comes to suicide prevention, progress has been far more limited.
“While agriculture in the UK benefits from rural support groups and charities who deliver vital, high-quality support, a critical gap remains: there is still very little suicide prevention training tailored specifically for those working in agriculture.
“Farming brings a unique set of pressures – long hours, isolation, financial uncertainty, generational expectations and physical risk. Conversations about suicide in rural communities require approaches that are real, relatable and rooted in lived experience. Without training designed for the realities of agricultural life, we risk leaving those most vulnerable without the tools they need to recognise warning signs and intervene effectively.”
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Stephanie continued: “Farming is tough. Long hours, hard graft and a mindset that says ‘just get on with it.’ That grit is admirable – but it is also why some farmers leave it too late to ask for help.
“As we enter 2026, we want to address the issue of suicide awareness and prevention. Too many farming families are quietly carrying the weight of crisis and loss. The message this year is simple: learn the steps, start conversations earlier and look out for each other. When communities know what to say and what to do, lives can be saved.”
To find out more about Rural Support, click here. You can also call their confidential helpline on 08001381678.
For the first time, it was the turn of Ireland to host the Michelinguide as it announced its UK and Ireland guide for 2026, announced tonight in The Convention Centre in Dublin.
London fared well, with nine new one star restaurants, and two new two stars. The only restaurant to lose its star this year was Humo in Mayfair, which held a star in 2024 and 2025. Club Gascon has also not made the guide, though this is likely because it has announced it is to close next month.
Devised by the Michelin brothers in France in 1899, the guide first awarded stars in 1926. Initially a handy list of restaurants for those who had a car at the time, the guide gradually morphed from a facet of leisure to a marker of consumer status and lifestyle, placing an authoritative spotlight on restaurants around France.
A testament to its influence as a governing body, the Michelin guide is now internationally recognised in a way that’s unique. The winning and losing of stars is still able to make or break restaurants — which only gains poignancy as restaurants, particularly in the UK, muddle through an increasingly bleak wilderness.
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Stars are awarded through Michelin’s nebulous body of inspectors, the most feared and revered group of Mystery Shoppers ever to book a table. The star ranking is defined as follows:
One High quality cooking, worth a stop
Two Excellent cooking, worth a detour
Three Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey
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In 2020, Michelin established the awarding of green stars, in recognition of sustainability. This year’s winners included … with, notably, none in London.
In total, London has 88 Michelin restaurants in 2026, compared to the 85 in the 2025 guide. Though there were 11 new additions, the relatively slight increase is in part down to some losses owing to closures, with La Dame de Pic, the City; Bibendum; Dosa; Cornerstone; and The Five Fields all going since last year’s guide. Here are all of London’s one, two and three-star restaurants.
Restaurants in London with three Michelin stars
The Ledbury, Notting Hill. Brett Graham’s luxurious west London spot has long been a Michelin favourite and remains one of the hardest tables in London to land a reservation at. Read our review. 127 Ledbury Rd, Notting Hill, London W11, theledbury.com
Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, Mayfair. The French fine-dining establishment went up from two stars to three in 2021, and has retained them since. It first won two stars back in 2011. The Connaught, Carlos Place, Mayfair, London W1K, helenedarroze.com
Core by Clare Smyth, Notting Hill. Clare Smyth’s first solo venture won its three stars in remarkable time — Core first opened in late 2017 — and maintains them for another year. 92 Kensington Park Rd, Notting Hill, London W11, corebyclaresmyth.com
Sketch Lecture Room & Library, Mayfair. The quirky 18th-century townhouse, serving sophisticated French food, holds onto its coveted third star at the upstairs restaurant. Read our write up here.9 Conduit St, Mayfair, London W1S, sketch.london
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Chelsea. Ramsay’s French fine-dining restaurant has held three stars since 2001 and keeps them all in this year’s guide. Though to look at it is perhaps showing its age, chef de cuisine Kim Ratcharoen is a fearsome talent. Read our write up here. 68 Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London SW3, gordonramsayrestaurants.com
Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Park Lane. The restaurant serving contemporary French cuisine, using seasonal French and British ingredients, maintains all three of its stars. Read our write up here.The Dorchester, 53 Park Ln, Mayfair, London W1K, alainducasse-dorchester.com
Restaurants in London with two Michelin stars
Matt Abé at his debut restaurant Bonheur
Bonheur
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NEW: Row on 5, Savile Row. Spencer Metzgerand Jason Atherton’s extremely, extremely good restaurant gets the recognition it deserves. Highly unusual for a restaurant to go from one star to two in just a year, but if anywhere should have achieved the feat, it’s this place. Read our write up here.5 Savile Row, W1S, rowon5london.com
NEW: Bonheur by Matt Abé, Mayfair. A big challenge, in some senses, for chef Matt Abé. Not only was this his debut restaurant, having left three-star Restaurant Gordon Ramsay after decades of service, but the address itself comes with huge expectations, having been the legendary La Gavorche. Abé’s cooking is beyond accomplished; three stars surely beckon next year. Read our review here.43 Upper Brook Street, W1K, bonheurbymattabe.com
Humble Chicken, Soho. Humble Chicken was founded by chef Angelo Sato in 2021. It launched as a casual yakitori bar, but Sato switched to a more elevated concept in 2023, reopening with a £185, 16-course tasting menu. Since winning its second star in 2025, the omakase tasting menu comes in at a slightly less humble £235 for lunch and dinner. 54 Frith Street, W1D, humblechickenuk.com
The Ritz, Piccadilly.The Ritz Restaurant, led by the much-loved chef John Williams, earned its first star in 2017 and many had tipped it to move up to two. It is the epitome of luxury, elegance and fine dining. The service might be the best in the world. 150 Piccadilly, W1J, theritzlondon.com
Gymkhana, Mayfair. JKS’ flagship Indian restaurant in Mayfair is a haven to rich, elegant dining, where the lamb chops are as tender as any in London and the biryani celebrated by any who encounter it. 42 Albemarle Street, W1S, gymkhanarestaurants.com
Brooklands, Knightsbridge. French chef Claude Bosi did the same thing at Bibendum, entering the Guide not with one star, but two. Brooklands is less a homage to classical French cuisine but just as much a nest of opulence. Read our review. The Peninsula, 1 Grosvenor Place, SW1X, brooklandslondon.com
Trivet, Southwark. Ex-Fat Duck chef Johnny Lake partners with master sommelier Isa Bal at this airy Bermondsey restaurant, where the menu moves from crispy chicken wings to cured sea bass, and the wine list, perhaps the most thorough in the UK, explores everywhere from Georgia to Lebanon. Read our review. 36 Snowsfields,SE1, trivetrestaurant.co.uk
Alex Dilling at the Cafe Royal, Piccadilly. The dining room at the Café Royal has been home to Dilling since September 2022, after his departure from the Greenhouse during the pandemic. The menu, which modernises fine French classics, has proved a hit. 68 Regent Street, London W1B, alexdilling.com
Ikoyi, The Strand. The restaurant famous for combining West African spices with British ingredients rises from one to two stars. The award is likely to be a popular one — few places are so widely and regularly praised. Read our review. 180 Strand, Temple, London WC2R, ikoyilondon.com
The Clove Club, Shoreditch. Isaac McHale’s restaurant with an innovative British menu, using often-overlooked ingredients, won two stars last in 2022 and has retained them for 2024. Read our review. Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old St, London EC1V, thecloveclub.com
A. Wong, Pimlico. Andrew Wong’s world-famous restaurant in Pimlico deservedly holds onto its two stars with a menu celebrating flavours from across China. 70 Wilton Road, Pimlico, London SW1V, awong.co.uk
Da Terra, Hackney. Rafael Cagali’s East London spot continues to be a winning one. Food here is incredibly detailed, perhaps as Cagali once worked at The Fat Duck. 8 Patriot Square, London E2, daterra.co.uk
Restaurant Story, London Bridge. Tom Sellers’ restaurant, with a British tasting menu of seasonal dishes, stays at two. The news is impressive given its recent overhaul, which saw the restaurant shut for much of last year. 199 Tooley St, London SE1, restaurantstory.co.uk
Kitchen Table, Bloomsbury. The intimate 19-seater counter-only restaurant which changes its menu daily, retains both its Michelin stars. 70 Charlotte Street, W1T, kitchentablelondon.co.uk
Dinner by Heston, Knightsbridge. Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant, serving modern dishes inspired by historic British gastronomy, keeps both its stars. 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X, mandarinoriental.com
Restaurants in London with one Michelin star
Nieves Barragan at her newly-starred restaurant Legado
Sam Cornish
NEW: Legado, Shoreditch. Nieves Barragan’s second restaurant joins her first, Sabor, with a star. The suckling pig is a must. “We tried to bring Spain to Shoreditch,” said Barragan at the awards. Read our review. Unit 1C Montacute, E1 6HU, legadorestaurants.com
NEW: Tom Brown at the Capital, Knightsbridge. Tom Brown returns to the Michelinguide after the closure of his first project, Cornerstone. Brown launched with a tasting menu but later ditched it, but here employs all his signature moves, to great effect. Read our review. 22-24 Basil Street, SW3, tombrownatthecapital.com
NEW: Ambassadors Clubhouse, Mayfair. Something of a party spot from the JKS group, with a lively bar and food built for sharing. Extremely stylish, and with a good value lunch menu too. 25 Heddon Street, W1B, ambassadorsclubhouse.com
NEW: Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, the City. Gordon Ramsay’s second RGR — following his three star original in Chelsea — is famed for its stunning views over the capital. Chef James Goodyear cooks for just 12 each night, to extraordinary effect. 22 Bishopsgate, EC2N, gordonramsayrestaurants.com
NEW: Labombe by Trivet, Park Lane. Trivet’s rather simpler little sister is more approachable, and for that reason rather more fun to be in. 19 Old Park Lane, W1K, labombe.co.uk
NEW: The Kerfield Arms, Camberwell.A gastropub, but more than that too, serving modern British places with a joyful Italian twist, and French influences too. 16 Grove Lane, SE5, thekerfieldarms.co.uk
NEW: Corenucopia by Clare Smyth, Pimlico. The famed chef said her intentions were to be more relaxed here, with the restaurant sometimes described as her take on a bistro. Perhaps not entirely true — it is still very upmarket — but Smyth is a brilliant chef and it will always show. 18-22 Holbein Place, SW1W, corenucopia.com
NEW: Somssi by Jihun Kim, Knightsbridge. This 14-seat counter restaurant serves some of London’s very best Korean food.22 Hanover Square, W1S, mandarinoriental.com
NEW: Michael Caines at the Stafford, St James’s. A mere five months after opening, Michael Caines picked up a star at the much-loved hotel. The style is traditional fine-dining, in comforting surrounds. 16-18 St James’s Place, SW1A 1NJ, thestaffordlondon.com
64 Goodge Street, Fitzrovia. Michelin success is no new thing for the Woodhead Group, who own and operate 64 Goodge Street, as sister site Portland has long held this coveted accolade. It’s a triumph to see a star bestowed here, under the direction of chef Stuart Andrew. 64 Goodge Street, W1T, 64goodgestreet.com
AngloThai, Marylebone. Thai food in London has long been overlooked by the French tyre company but the inclusion of AngloThai represents Michelin finally starting to pay attention to the food people are actually eating. The restaurant has gone from strength to strength in the past year. Read our full review here. 1 Mandeville Place, W1U, anglothai.com
Caractére, Notting Hill. Emily Roux was cooking in Notting Hill before Notting Hill was cool. Roux’s restaurant, opened with husband Diego Ferrari, continues her family’s longstanding culinary legacy with Michelin recognising it in its seventh year. Read our full review here. 69 Chepstow Road, W2, caractere.co.uk
Michael Caines at his restaurant inside the Stafford Hotel
Press handout
Cornus, Belgravia. Cornus seemed somehow built for stars. Swanky postcode, fine ingredients, gently modernised takes on fine French cookery: tick, tick and tick. Read our full review here. 20 Belgrave Street, SW1X, cornusrestaurant.com
Lita, Marylebone. When Lita opened, the cooking already felt accomplished and this award solidifies it as one of the very best places to eat in London. Yes, the prices are eye-watering, but this is not only the best cooked-over-coals restaurant in town, it’s one of the best places in London to eat out. Read our full review here. 50 Seymour Street, W1H, litalondon.com
Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at The OWO, Westminster. While this restaurant might not be to everyone’s taste (read our full review here) there is no doubt that Michelin loves the work of Mauro Colagreco, his flagship Mirazur in Menton, France, having already received the maximum three stars. The OWO, 350 Strand, WC2R, raffles.com
OMA, Borough. This one was a surprise to many in the 2025 guide, not because the food isn’t of an extremely high calibre — it is — but because it’s not the sort of place Michelin usually awards stars to. But perhaps the old tyre firm is getting better: OMA is certainly a restaurant deserving of this accolade. 86 Long Lane, EC1A, oma-london.com
Plates, Shoreditch. The UK’s first plant-based restaurant has been breaking the mold since it opened. Chef Kirk Haworth — formerly at Restaurant Sat Bains and a Great British Menu winner — and his sister Keeley launched this highly progressive concept to huge plaudits in 2024. Unit 8, St John’s House, EC1V, plateslondon.com
Mountain, Soho. Under the stewardship of chef Tomos Parry, Mountain opened in July 2023. It joins sister restaurant Brat in holding one. Read our review. 12 Poland Street, W1F, mountainlondon.com
1890 at The Savoy, The Strand. Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant, opened in 2022, has won a Michelin star. Ramsay now holds 18 across the world.The Savoy Hotel, Strand, London WC2R, gordonramsayrestaurants.com
Pavyllon, Mayfair. Multi-Michelin starred French chef Yannick Alleno arrived in the capital in 2023, quickly establishing a home to classic fine dining at his restaurant at The Four Seasons hotel, Park Lane. Four Seasons Hotel, Hamilton Place,W1J, pavyllon.co.uk
Dorian, Notting Hill. This charming neighbourhood restaurant opened in 2022, an “anti-Notting Hill” space serving seasonally led dishes in a buzzy bistro setting. Read our review here. 45 Kensington Park Road, W11, dorianrestaurant.com
Akoko, Fitzrovia. Aji Akokomi founded West African restaurant Akoko in Fitzrovia in 2021, a restaurant aiming to use British ingredients, African spices, and shine a brighter light on food from the region in a modern way. Read our review here. 11 Great Titchfield Street, W1W, akoko.co.uk
Sushi Kanesaka, Mayfair. London’s most expensive restaurant upon opening, in 2023, with a £420 menu (it has since surpassed). Michelin described its sushi as being as “good as Tokyo.” 9 Albemarle Street, W1S, sushikanesaka.co.uk
Aulis, Soho. Simon Rogan’s experimental counter dining experience in Soho expanded to double the size last year and now operates with the same forward-thinking ethos, but as more of a restaurant, less of a testing ground.13 Foubert’s Pl, London W1F, aulislondon.com
Ormer, Mayfair. Tucked away in the basement of Flemings Mayfair hotel, the restaurant is upmarket but relaxed, with Michelin talking of “charming, unstuffy service,” and superb ingredients from the British Isles. 7-13 Half Moon St, London W1J, ormer.co.uk
Luca, Clerkenwell. Young Turks Isaac McHale, Daniel Willis and Johnny Smith founded Luca back in 2016 and have quietly, but assuredly, refined Italian cooking with immaculately sourced, thoroughly British ingredients, the restaurant retains its star for the second year.75 Clerkenwell Rd, London EC1M , lucarestaurant.com
Cycene, Shoreditch. The latest restaurant of Theo Clench (Clove Club, Akoko). His dynamic cooking style and breadth of influence is on display at the highly refined Cycene.85 Curtain Road, EC2A, cycene.com
Taku, Mayfair. Tucked behind the Royal Academy of Arts on Albemarle Street, Taku is the sister spot to the Michelin-starred Jin Paris, also founded by sushi master Takuya (Taku) Watanabe. Watanabe’s high-end omakase menu, made up of 17 courses, is designed to delight and inspire his guests, focusing on the freshest possible ingredients.18 Albemarle St, London W1S, takulondon.com
St Barts, Smithfield. Seasonal British restaurant from Johnnie Crowe, Luke Wasserman and Toby Neil has been built for accolades. The food, which focuses on British seasonality, spans Yorkshire beef, Welsh wagyu and Exmoor caviar and was awarded its star in 2023.31-33 St John St, London EC1M, stbartsrestaurant.com
Sollip, Southwark. Despite a somewhat lukewarm reception on opening, this Korean quickly established itself as a must-eat for its innovative and ground-breaking cooking. Read our write up here.41-42 Bermondsey St, London SE1 — solliplondon.com
Kol, Marylebone. Santiago Lastra couldn’t pack diners in quickly enough as his modern Mexican, which uses only British ingredients. It was the most talked about restaurant in 2021 and has stayed busy after gaining a star last year. Read all about it here.23 Seymour Place, W1H, kolrestaurant.com
The Frog by Adam Handling, Covent Garden. Handling had long wanted a star and at his oft-overlooked flagship, he finally received one in 2022.15 Henrietta Street, WC2E, thefrog.co.uk
Wild Honey St James, St James. Anthony Demetre’s super-luxe brasserie, where the Negronis are famous.1-3 St James’s Street, SW1A, wildhoneystjames.com
Jamavar, Mayfair. The Mount Street restaurant took over what had been long considered a cursed site, but has picked up a reputation as one of London’s finest Indian restaurants.10-12 Mount St, London W1K, jamavar.co.uk
Evelyn’s Table, Soho. Stalwart of the guide, this basement restaurant is one of London’s best secrets. 47-48 Greek St, London W1D, evelynstable.com
Sola, Soho. Victor Garvey’s sort-of Californian, sort-of Japanese, very definitely fine dining. 2 Frith Street,W1D, sola-soho.com
Benares, Mayfair. Those. Lamb. Chops. The Berkeley Square Indian is a worthy recipient.Its refit and refurbishment last year has truly elevated the restaurant.12a Berkeley Street, W1J, benaresrestaurant.com
Casa Fofó, Hackney. A popular neighbourhood spot which specialises in seasonal eating.72 Lower Clapton Road, E5, casafofo.co.uk
Muse by Tom Aikens, Belgravia. No stranger to Michelin, little surprise Tom Aikens’ latest venture fares well. The menu is all but a secret, and inspired by the chef’s life.10 Eccleston Street, SW1W, musebytomaikens.com
Behind, London Fields. Chef-owner Andy Beynon somehow managed to open up in 2020 and, even more miraculously, grab a star after just 20 days of trading. But he has proved he is more than worthy and maintains his star for another year.181-183 London Fields, E8, behindrestaurant.com
Umu, Mayfair. London’s first Kyoto-influenced restaurant, which was awarded its first star within five months of opening in 2004.14-16 Bruton Place, W1J, umurestaurant.com
The Dysart Petersham, Richmond. The family-owned Richmond restaurant earned its first Michelin star in the 2020 guide, with former Roux Scholar Kenneth Culhane at the helm in the kitchen, and Barney Taylor managing the restaurant.The Dysart, Petersham Rd, London TW10, dysartpetersham.co.uk
Endo at the Rotunda, White City. Sushi master Endo Kazutoshi’s 16-seat restaurant in the former BBC Television Centre.White City, Wood Ln, London W12, endo-rotunda.com
Sabor, Mayfair. Nieves Barragan Mohacho’s high-end tapas restaurant keeps the star it was awarded in 2019. Read our write up here.24-26 Beak Street, W1F, sabor.co.uk
The Ninth, Fitzrovia. Jun Tanaka’s Charlotte Street venue, serving French and Mediterranean-style sharing dishes.9 Charlotte St, London W1T, theninth.co.uk
Pied à Terre, Fitzrovia. A local favourite and one of London’s longest standing Michelin restaurants, which continues to push forward. Read its story here.34 Charlotte Street, W1T, pied-a-terre.co.uk
La Trompette, Chiswick. High-end and much-loved modern French spot, sister to Chez Bruce.19 Devonshire Road, W4, latrompette.co.uk
St. John, Clerkenwell. The original site of this traditional British restaurant, which has been specialising in nose-to-tail eating for more than a quarter of a century, keeps its star. Read our write up here.26 St John Street, EC1, stjohnrestaurant.com
Angler, The City. The modern seasonal seafood-focussed British restaurant at the South Place Hotel, with mirrored ceilings and 7th-floor City views, keeps its star. South Place Hotel, 3 South Place, EC2, angler-restaurant.com
Elystan Street, Chelsea. The Chelsea kitchen serving contemporary, seasonal European cuisine stays in the guide with one star. Read our write up here.43 Elystan St, London SW3,elystanstreet.com
Kitchen W8, Kensington. The relaxed and friendly modern European restaurant is in the guide after holding its star.8 Wrights Lane, W8, kitchenw8.com
Trinity, Clapham. The swish neighbourhood restaurant with modern, seasonal menus stays in the guide after maintaining its star.1 Trinity Street, SW4, trinityrestaurant.co.uk
Galvin La Chapelle, Spitalfields. The restaurant serving polished French cuisine with a contemporary twist in a Grade II-listed building stays in the guide with one star. Read our write up here.35 Spital Square, E1, galvinrestaurants.com
Murano, Mayfair. Angela Hartnett’s modern European restaurant with a strong Italian influence keeps its star. Read our write up here.20 Queen Street, W1J, muranolondon.com
Veeraswamy, Mayfair. The restaurant serving high-end Indian cuisine with Maharajah-inspired decor keeps its one star. Read our write up here.99-101 Regent Street,W1B, veeraswamy.com
Portland, Marylebone. The seasonal modern European, with a wine list that focuses on lesser-known regions and varieties, holds on to its star. Read our write up here.113 Great Portland Street, W1W, portlandrestaurant.co.uk
Trishna, Marylebone. The upscale Indian from the southwest coast using fish and coconut keeps its star. Read our write up here.15-17 Blandford Street, W1U, trishnalondon.com
The Dining Room at The Goring, Westminster. The restaurant, popular with the Royal Family and often praised for its consistency, makes this another year with a star. Read our write up here.15 Beeston Place, SW1W, thegoring.com
Quilon, Westminster. The restaurant, specialising in south-west coastal Indian cuisine, keeps its star.41 Buckingham Gate, SW1, quilon.co.uk
The 23-year-old, a former Premier League Young Player of the Season, scored a hat-trick in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Wolves on Saturday.
Those three goals almost doubled Palmer’s tally for the season, taking him from four Premier League goals to seven.
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Premier League record goalscorer and ex-England striker Shearer had his fair share of injury setbacks during his career and says he ‘hated’ being in the position Palmer has found himself in this season.
‘It was really interesting listening to Cole Palmer after the [Wolves] game saying he’s having to manage his injury in a specific way,’ Shearer said on The Rest is Football podcast.
‘I hated being in that position as a player, when you know you need to get through an injury and you’re not being able to train as much as you want.
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Cole Palmer scored a hat-trick as Chelsea thumped Wolves (Picture: Getty)
‘You get to the game, then you’re back to square one when it’s feeling okay. It’s a horrible position to be in that so the sooner he gets over that the better.’
Gary Lineker, who believes he suffered the exact same issue as Palmer, added: ‘I know that injury, funnily enough, I spent a year at Everton with that injury.
‘It was exactly the same as Cole Palmer’s one, it was niggly and I never trained, and that’s why people used to say he never trains, he just has a bath every day.
‘There was a reason for that. I was struggling. It never stopped me from playing, I could always play through it, but the niggle was there all of the time.
‘It wasn’t really until I had a break after the World Cup that it went away.
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‘It’s a weird one, because it niggles you, once you play, you’re alright, but you can do something, and it stiffens up. It sounds like Cole is going through the same thing.’
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior hailed Palmer as ‘world-class’ and ‘unstoppable’ following his hat-trick against bottom-placed Wolves.
‘We know what a world-class player he is,’ the new Stamford Bridge manager said. ‘He’s played a lot of football over the last year with not much rest.
‘When he’s at his best, he’s unstoppable. I’m delighted to be working with him.’
Speaking at his pre-Leeds United press conference on Monday afternoon, Rosenior confirmed Palmer came out of the Wolves win unscathed and was fit to start at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.
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‘Cole is available for tomorrow,’ Rosenior said. ‘I think any world-class player is important to what you want to achieve.
‘So for me, it’s been great to see him enjoying his football and on Saturday it’s been great to see him banging in the goals and hopefully his form continues in that way.’
Chelsea have largely impressed under Liam Rosenior (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea are fifth in the Premier League ahead of their clash with 16th-placed Leeds, one point outside the top-four places.
‘If he’s impacting games, like we know he can, from now to the end of the season, he’s a sure thing to be in the squad,’ the former Liverpool and England midfielder told BBC Sport.
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‘He can play wide, he can play as a 10. He’s just so good on the ball and classy and simply doesn’t fear anybody.
Leeds United beat Chelsea at Elland Road (Picture: Getty)
‘Even if you bring him off the bench, you know he can do unbelievable things. He can win you a game in a heartbeat.’
The Money Saving Expert highlighted the government’s Help to Save scheme and regular saver accounts offering up to 7.1% interest during his BBC podcast
Martin Lewis has discussed a DWP scheme that savers might wish to consider. The consumer expert offered several tips on building savings during an episode of his BBC podcast.
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He dedicated a significant portion of the programme to examining mortgage overpayments and whether this strategy is more advantageous than placing money into savings accounts.
One listener asked about what to do with a lump sum of £90,000 that they were about to receive. They were paying a relatively high mortgage rate of 5.6 per cent and asked for advice on how to use the money.
Mr Lewis said his general principle is that if your mortgage rate surpasses the highest after-tax savings rate available, it may be more sensible to overpay your mortgage rather than deposit cash into savings. Responding to the question, Mr Lewis initially stated that “you cannot earn 5.6 percent in savings”.
He pointed out certain savings vehicles where this rate can be exceeded. He mentioned briefly: “With the exception of a Help to Save if you’re on Universal Credit or a regular saver where you can put a couple of hundred quid a month in.”
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The Help to Save scheme is worth considering if you’re receiving Universal Credit, as it offers a 50 per cent bonus on deposits. Through the scheme, you receive a 50p bonus for every £1 you deposit into the account over a four-year period, reports the Mirror.
You can contribute between £1 and £50 each month, meaning you can save up to £2,400 over four years, earning up to £1,200 in bonuses. Savers receive their bonuses across two stages, with the first payout arriving after the initial two years, calculated on the highest balance achieved during that period.
The second bonus comes at the conclusion of year four, determined by the highest balance reached in years three and four. When it comes to regular saver accounts, you can get rates of over 7 per cent, but there are restrictions on monthly deposits.
Take Nationwide Building Society’s Flex Regular Saver, for instance, which offers 6.5 per cent but caps monthly contributions at £200. By depositing the maximum amount, savers could pocket £84.50 annually in interest.
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Currently, Zopa leads the market with its Regular Saver offering 7.1 per cent, allowing customers to stash away up to £300 monthly. Financial experts are forecasting further cuts to the Bank of England’s base rate this year.
The rate presently stands at 3.75 per cent. The central bank opted to maintain this level in its most recent announcement.
Abdul Kahar, 41, met the girl, 15, on Snapchat and after giving her vodka to the point where she was sick, he proceeded to rape her in his car despite the victim trying to push the predator away, a court heard
A “sexual predator” raped a 15-year-old girl in his car after giving her so much alcohol she was sick twice – and was caught when the victim raised the alarm by calling police “asking for a pizza”.
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Abdul Kahar, 41, met the 15-year-old girl on Snapchat and arranged to meet her while posing as a 17-year-old boy called ‘Jay’. The father-of-one, who is also married, picked the girl up in Druid’s Heath, Birmingham after promising her they could “drink and a chill”.
But after forcing the girl to drink vodka, to the point where she was sick twice, Kahar started touching her breasts in the front of the vehicle before taking her to the back where he removed her clothes, Birmingham Crown Court heard.
On a number of occasions the teenager tried to push the defendant away and at one stage “he put his hands around her throat and squeezed so she could not breathe”, Francesca Perera, prosecuting, said.
The girl, now 16, lived in a children’s home and was in the care of the local authority at the time of the attack, the court heard. It was said Kahar told the victim on Snapchat before they met that she looked pretty, and also asked for naked pictures of her, whether she had ever had sex with anyone else and if she would do anything for him for money.
After the attack the quick-thinking victim duped Kahar into believing she was dialling for a pizza when in fact she called the police control centre as she sat in his vehicle. The girl had seen a video on TikTok where another sexual assault victim had phoned police to send a SOS by ‘ordering a pizza’.
The call-handler asked her ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions to establish exactly what was happening on June 28 last year. When she asked the girl if she was in danger she replied “yeah”. The victim was able to tell police the exact location.
Kahar pleaded guilty to two charges of raping a female under 16, four charges of sexually assaulting a female over 13, non-fatal intentional strangulation and breach of a sexual harm prevention order. He was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court for 15 years and three months on Monday.
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Sentencing, Judge Sarah Buckingham said: “At the time of the offences you were 40 while she was 15. You were well over twice her age. You are a sexual predator with a deep seated sexual attraction to young and underage girls. It would have been obvious to you that she was particularly vulnerable and at risk of exploitation so you exploited her and plied her with alcohol.
“When she tried to resist you put your hands around her throat and forced her to stop resisting. You had utterly no regard for her well being despite your claims. This was a prolonged incident and your offending was planned. You are a 41-year-old father of an eight-year-old boy. You should be utterly ashamed of yourself. You have disgraced yourself and brought shame upon your family.”
Ben Hargreaves, defending, said “It is always the family of the defendant who will suffer the most. He has an eight-year-old and a wife who are dumbfounded by his behaviour.”
Detective Constable Lauren Campbell, of West Midlands Police, said: “Kahar posed as a 17-year-old boy on Snapchat and groomed a vulnerable 15-year-old girl online for a period of time before she agreed to meet up with him. He then raped and sexually assaulted her in his car.
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“I want to praise the brave actions of the girl and also praise the call handler for having the foresight to understand this was a call for help from someone who was vulnerable and in danger.”
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Federal authorities have denied attempting to expedite an end to asylum claims by the family of a 5-year-old boy who was detained with his father during the immigration crackdown that has shaken the Minneapolis area.
Images of Liam Conejo Ramos wearing a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack surrounded by immigration officers stirred outrage over the crackdown.
Danielle Molliver, a lawyer for the boy and his father, told the New York Times that the government was attempting to speed up the deportation proceedings, calling the actions “extraordinary” and possibly “retaliatory.”
The government denied that.
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“These are regular removal proceedings. They are not in expedited removal,” Department of Homeland Security official Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement, adding “there is nothing retaliatory about enforcing the nation’s immigration laws.”
Molliver told the Times that an immigration judge, during a closed Friday hearing, gave her additional time to argue the family’s case.
The boy and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, who originally is from Ecuador, were detained in a Minneapolis suburb on Jan. 20. They were taken to a detention facility in Dilley, Texas.
They were released following a judge’s order and returned to Minnesota on Feb. 1.
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Neighbors and school officials have accused federal immigration officers of using the preschooler as “bait” by telling him to knock on the door to his house so that his mother would come outside. DHS has called that description of events an “abject lie.” It said the father fled on foot and left the boy in a running vehicle in their driveway.
The government said the boy’s father entered the U.S. illegally from Ecuador in December 2024. The family’s lawyer said he has an asylum claim pending that allows him to stay in the U.S.
Councillor says dirty signs and street furniture “doesn’t give a good impression of this place”
Ards and North Down Borough Council is to look at “basic maintenance” and cleaning of public infrastructure, following a viral social media video showing a local cleaning firm cleaning signage around Bangor for free.
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Elected representatives have unanimously agreed to a DUP motion calling for a review of the maintenance of council property and the public realm. The motion passed at committee level and will go to the council’s full council at the the end of the month for ratification, where it is expected to pass.
Councillors are reacting to high profile media reports at the start of the year focusing on individuals from a private cleaning firm who spent the holiday period voluntarily cleaning public signage around Bangor for free after describing the situation as “shameful.”
The man who conceived the motion, DUP Councillor Alistair Cathcart, said at the February meeting of the council’s Environment committee: “We are calling our council to get back to basics and ensure our towns, cities and villages are looking their best. A dirty footpath, flowerbeds being unkept, street furniture being damaged and not maintained – it doesn’t give a good impression of this place.
“The council is making fantastic progress on the bigger stuff, the regeneration scheme for Bangor and elsewhere are really terrific, but I don’t think there has been enough focus on getting the basics right.”
He said: “The dirty street signs may not sound that important in the grand scheme of things, but they are really noticeable, they irritate people, and give the impression that we just don’t care. That is not the impression I want to give of Bangor, or this borough. But I am spending a lot of time reporting these basic maintenance issues.
“The council are very good in their responses to that, and I am grateful for the hard work they do, but it shouldn’t be dealt with in a reactive manner. There should be policies in place to ensure the basic maintenance of our urban centres is being done.”
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He said the matter came to a head for him around Christmas with the “dirty” City Hall sign at Bangor, which went viral on social media.
He said: “It became a symbol of the council not caring, and frankly being so useless that they couldn’t even clean their own sign on their own building. It has been embarrassing for the council. We have a sign policy in place but it clearly wasn’t followed.
“We agreed a proactive maintenance strategy 10 years ago when this council was formed. It is clear this needs to be reviewed, because it is not working as well as it should.
“There are elements that work well, the maintenance strategy for our buildings works quite well, but it is around those things I have mentioned, the signs, the furniture and other public realm is really the concern.”
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The council motion states it will commit to a review of its current proactive maintenance and cleansing regimes, “highlighting options and opportunities for improvement and associated budgetary requirements, so as to allow members to consider potential improvements in outcomes.”
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast finally drops on our screens this week.
The new Netflix series, from Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee, follows three lifelong friends in their late 30s who have remained a tight-knit group since their school days.
Coming to the streaming platform on February 12, the plot is set in motion when the friends receive a mysterious email announcing the death of the estranged fourth member of their childhood gang.
With the news that Belfast City Airport has increased its car parking charges last week, Netflix has shared an exclusive first look at the new show with Belfast Live.
In the snippet, we see Robyn and Dara head to the airport to pick up Saorise and end up parking in the Harland and Wolff yard as Dara complains about the price of parking.
Watch the video below…
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast
Roísín Gallagher stars as Saoirse, Sinéad Keenan and Caoilfhionn Dunne star as Robyn and Dara respectively – the supporting cast features notable talent, including Michelle Fairley, Saoirse-Monica Jackson from Derry Girls and Oscar-winner James Martin.
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‘How to Get to Heaven from Belfast’ will premiere on Netflix globally on 12th February
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