THE Angel Inn at Hetton is ‘over the moon’ after being awarded a highly coveted Michelin star.

The restaurant was one of 29 restaurants across Great Britain and Ireland to be awarded either one, two, or the highest three stars for the first time in the Michelin Guide for 2020 at a special launch event this week held at The Hurlingham Club in Fulham, London.

Owner and chef patron Michael Wignall, said: “We are over the moon to have been awarded a Michelin star in this year’s guide. It’s testament to all the hard work and dedication our team have put in over the last 12 months.

“We would like thank everyone who has supported us in our first year and look forward to welcoming new and old guests to The Angel”.

The restaurant, owned by Michael, his wife Johanna, in partnership with James and Jo Wellock,already has four AA Rosettes, and earlier this year, along with the Burlington restaurant at The Devonshire Arms in Bolton Abbey, it was included in a list of the top 100 national restaurants of the year.

Mr Wignall, already a holder of two Michelin stars and five AA rosettes at restaurants in Devon and in Surrey, took over the Angel at Hetton in September last year. On his arrival, he promised to keep everything the Angel was famous for - its fantastic food, a warm welcome and a deep connection with the dramatic Yorkshire landscape that surrounds it.

He says future plans are to bring a brand-new fine dining restaurant, “Cove” to the mix, putting the Angel on every gourmet food lovers bucket list.

The Angel is said to be the UK’s original ‘gastropub with origins dating back to the 15th century. In 2010, it featured in an episode of The Trip with Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan dropping in for breakfast.