sevendayweekender – Plates London, a plant-based fine dining restaurant, has earned the UK’s first Michelin star for a fully vegan establishment. Founded in July 2024 by siblings Keeley and Kirk Haworth. The restaurant gained recognition for its innovative approach to plant-based cuisine. Michelin praised Kirk Haworth for “taking his classical training and inventively adapting it to a vegan diet.”
The 2025 Michelin Awards Ceremony in Glasgow on February 10 announced Plates London as one of nine new restaurants in the capital to receive its first star. During the ceremony, Kirk Haworth emphasized that his focus is not just on vegan food but on creating exciting flavors and culinary experiences. “It’s just about flavor; that’s all it’s about—flavor, excitement, innovation, and trying to take it to a new space of deliciousness,” he said.
Vegan Fine Dining Gains Momentum in the UK
Plates London’s recognition signals a shift in the fine dining industry, as chefs and critics increasingly embrace plant-based cuisine. While over 6,400 plant-based restaurants operate in the UK. Gourmet vegan establishments remain rare due to the deep-rooted reliance of haute cuisine on meat and dairy-based techniques.
As of 2024, approximately 2.5 million people in the UK follow a vegan diet. Making up 4.7% of the adult population. Despite this growth, many chefs hesitate to transition to plant-based menus due to financial risks and the challenges of refining vegan fine dining techniques. French gastronomic chef Alexis who runs the gourmet vegan restaurant Gauthier in London. He explained, “It’s already so difficult to make a living with a restaurant. When you’ve spent years perfecting traditional dishes, shifting to plant-based requires significant reinvention.”
Plates London’s Michelin star is a milestone that could inspire more chefs to explore plant-based fine dining. Proving that vegan cuisine can hold its own at the highest culinary level.
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Plates London Sets a New Standard in Vegan Fine Dining
The UK’s first fully plant-based restaurant. Plates London to receive a Michelin star, is redefining fine dining with its innovative approach to plant-based gastronomy. The restaurant, founded by siblings Keeley and Kirk Haworth, is known for transforming natural ingredients into exquisite, gourmet creations. Their menu features dishes like mung and urad bean lasagne, kabocha squash and ginger soup, and raw cacao gateau. All crafted with sustainability and creativity at their core.
Plates London’s dedication to culinary excellence previously earned them the title of “Champion of Champions” on BBC’s Great British Menu TV series in 2023. Now, with a Michelin star to their name. This restaurant cements itself as a trailblazer in the world of plant-based fine dining.
Michelin Star Recognition Marks a Milestone for Plant-Based Cuisine
Kirk Haworth, who has trained in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, expressed immense pride in the achievement. “Earning a Michelin star is such an incredible honour and a lifetime goal since I was a young boy,” he shared. “To be the first in the plant-based sphere in the UK to win this prestigious award makes me unbelievably proud, and I am so grateful to our talented team for their support and dedication.”
Keeley Haworth echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the restaurant’s commitment to pushing culinary boundaries. “At Plates, we’ve always believed in pushing boundaries, and this achievement proves that plant-based dining can stand proudly at the highest level of gastronomy,” she said.
The 2025 Michelin Awards saw a total of 22 new restaurants earning their first star. With three in Ireland, two in Scotland, and one in Cardiff—the first-ever Michelin-starred restaurant in the Welsh capital. Meanwhile, Moor Hall in Lancashire became the only UK and Ireland restaurant to achieve three Michelin stars this year. Marking another milestone in the evolving fine dining scene.
