Vegan Restaurant Wins Michelin Star In UK First

Plates, a vegan restaurant in Hoxton, east London, has made history by becoming the first-ever vegan eatery to be awarded a Michelin star in the UK. Chef Kirk Haworth, who runs the restaurant, impressed judges with his innovative approach to vegan cooking by adapting classical training to a plant-based diet. Haworth aims to focus on flavor, excitement, and innovation rather than being pigeonholed by the label of being a vegan restaurant.

Opened in 2024 by Haworth and his sister Keeley, Plates offers a menu of eight inventive dishes made entirely with plant-based ingredients. Haworth, who previously worked at renowned non-vegan restaurants, shifted to a plant-based diet after being diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2016. The popular restaurant is fully booked but interested diners can sign up for the newsletter to be notified of cancellations. Other vegan fine dining options such as Gauthier Soho are available nearby, along with a handful of other Michelin-starred vegan establishments globally including New York's Eleven Madison Park.