'Incredibly proud'- Moor Hall named one of best restaurants in UK for 7th year in a row
“We’re incredibly proud to have once again been recognised among the very best restaurants in the UK”
A Lancashire restaurant has been named one of the best in the UK by a prestigious awards ranking.
Moor Hall has been named the fifth best restaurant in the country by the National Restaurant Awards 2026.
The National Restaurant Awards are an annual summer celebration held in London, championing the finest restaurants around the country.
As well as giving out specific awards, such as National Restaurant of the Year, the National Restaurant Awards features a prestigious top 100 list.
Moor Hall, founded by chef Mark Birchall in 2016, has now featured in the top five of this list for an impressive seven years in a row.
A spokesperson for Moor Hall said: “ We’re incredibly proud to have once again been recognised among the very best restaurants in the UK, securing #5 in the National Restaurant Awards 2026.
“This latest accolade means Moor Hall has now remained in the National Restaurant Awards Top 5 for 7 consecutive years, a testament to the dedication, passion and talent of our entire team.
“To be consistently recognised by our peers within such an exceptional industry is an honour we never take for granted. Thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey.
“Congratulations to all the restaurants recognised in this year’s list.”
Summarising the Aughton establishment, National Restaurant Awards gave it a four out of five for cost and said: “Moor Hall’s idyllic location is a fitting backdrop for chef Mark Birchall’s ambitious and brilliant cooking.”
In its full description of Moor Hall, National Restaurant Awards wrote: “Chef Mark Birchall opened Moor Hall in 2016 having spent the best part of a decade working at Simon Rogan’s then two-starred restaurant L’Enclume, promising at the time to create ‘something special’.
“He’s succeeded. His stunning Lancashire restaurant with rooms is located in a Grade II-listed building that dates back to the 13th century and is set in five acres of gardens with its own lake, no less. Within just two years of opening, Birchall replicated the success of his mentor, also winning two stars, and at the start of 2025 he completed the hattrick, achieving the highest rating from the red book.
“The setup at Moor Hall is impressive. The beautiful glass-fronted restaurant has an open kitchen as well as a walk-in cheese room, where diners are encouraged to visit to make their selection. The restaurant makes its own charcuterie in house and uses honey from its five beehives located within its verdant grounds.
“At Moor Hall the food really does the talking. The ambitious restaurant is tasting menu only, offering four and eight courses although guests can expect rather more than this in reality, such is the restaurant’s generosity when it comes to ‘extras’.
“A meal starts at the bar with a charcuterie selection before moving to the high-ceilinged room for the main event. A tour of the kitchen gardens is also part of the experience, weather permitting.
“It’s impressive stuff from a chef at the top of his game, one that marks Moor Hall out as a true Lancashire gem.”
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Moor Hall is no stranger to prestigious accolades, just this year it was voted the UK’s number one restaurant in the 2026 Hardens National Diners Poll and received a Special Achievement Award for its ‘outstanding’ contribution to the hospitality industry as part of The Kuits NRB Top Fifty Hospitality Power List 2026.
It even currently boasts Three Michelin Stars, a Michelin Green Star, and Five AA Rosettes.
At previous National Restaurant Awards, Moor Hall was named Best in Restaurant in England 2022 and National Restaurant of the Year 2019 and 2021.
Mark Birchall was also named Chef of the Year at the National Restaurant Awards 2025.
This year, Moor Hall was the only Lancashire restaurant to feature in the National Restaurant Awards top 100.
The only other North West establishments to feature for 2026 were four Cumbrian restaurants Forest Side (23), L’Enclume (34), Henrock (40) and The Cottage in the Wood (62) as well as three Manchester establishments: Skof (29), Erst (37), Higher Ground (39) and Winsome (67).