Announced this week, Michelin guide Great Britain and Ireland’s 2021 selection was arguably the most special as two restaurants helmed by women were the newest additions to the list of three-Michelin-starred restaurants of the guide. “Restaurants are struggling to survive now” said Clare Smyth, the first British woman chef to have a three-Michelin-starred restaurant of her own.

Adding that the most recent measures taken have been very hard for restaurants, “The longer it goes on the harder it is going to be for restaurants” said Smyth. Chef of Core, located in London, Clare Smyth ended her speech with the words “For the future, I hope young chefs — male and female — have the chance to own a restaurant and achieve success. It’s important given the challenge of COVID”.