Koffmann loses star in move to Berkeley

Pierre Koffmann's La Tante Claire, which moved to the Savoy Group's Berkeley hotel last year, has lost one of its three Michelin stars.

The restaurant, which moved in July after 21 years on the Royal Hospital Road in London's Chelsea, is the only three-star restaurant to lose a star in the latest guide, published this week.

A Michelin official said that the three-stars status was based on a combination of food and surroundings. "I can't go into details but restaurants have to retain consistency. If a restaurant changes premises it does not automatically retain its stars, it has to be inspected again," he said.

Gordon Ramsay, who took over the Chelsea premises from Koffmann to open his new restaurant after leaving Aubergine, has kept his two stars but his much-hoped-for third failed to materialise. Meanwhile, William Drabble who took over from Ramsay at Aubergine, has earned the restaurant one Michelin star.

Self-taught chef Heston Blumenthal, of the Fat Duck in Bray-on-Thames, Berkshire, gained his first star this year, as did Ludlow's Overton Grange, a former Caterer Adopted Business.

Gidleigh Park in Chagford, Devon, where Michael Caines is head chef, has been upgraded to two stars, as has Winteringham Fields in Lincolnshire.

Losers included Belfast's Roscoff, which had its one star deleted. And proving that Michelin stars do not necessarily mean financial success, the recently closed Interlude restaurant in London was awarded one star by the guide, which was compiled before the restaurant folded.

by Christina Golding