A Cumbrian chef’s debut restaurant has been named second best in the UK.
Barrow-born chef Tom Barnes took the runner-up spot on SquareMeal’s Top 100 UK Restaurants list for 2026 with his Manchester restaurant Skof.
Barnes spent 12 years working alongside renowned chef Simon Rogan including at L'Enclume before striking out on his own.
Skof, located in Manchester’s NOMA neighbourhood, opened in May 2024.
The restaurant has quickly earned critical acclaim and was awarded a Michelin star.
SquareMeal described Barnes’ first solo venture as 'nothing short of outstanding', praising its 'technical precision and innovation.'
They said: "Barnes brings a level of technical precision and innovation that matches his alma mater L'Enclume, but delivers it in a more down to earth fashion.
"Winning a debut Michelin star is testament to it's brilliance, and surely just the start of greater things."
Barnes joined Simon's team at L’Enclume in 2011 and apprenticed under chef Duncan Collinge at The Lakeside Hotel.
He has worked in some of the most highly regarded restaurants in the UK and beyond.
His achievements include winning the Great British Menu in 2020, leading Rogan & Co as head chef when it earned a Michelin star, and serving as executive chef at L’Enclume when it secured its third star.
The SquareMeal Top 100 UK Restaurants list is compiled using a combination of thousands of reader votes and the opinions of SquareMeal’s expert critics.
Caroline Hendry, content director at SquareMeal, said: "For 2026, judges placed renewed emphasis not only on exceptional cooking, but also on sustainability and a commitment to positive, people-first working environments.
"With professional kitchens often recognised as high-pressure spaces, this year’s list highlights restaurants actively prioritising staff welfare alongside culinary excellence."
SquareMeal’s Top 100 is unique in excluding London restaurants to focus on the wider UK dining scene.
The list celebrates both emerging and established restaurants and honours the chefs and hospitality teams behind them.
Ms Hendry said: "This year’s list celebrates the best-of-the-best in both emerging and established culinary styles and also celebrates the incredible chefs and their hospitality teams who go above and beyond to provide their diners with the very best experience."
