We are currently spoiled for choice in the North East when it comes to Michelin quality dining options and this week there is much to celebrate with news that the standard remains consistently high.
The annual announcement of Michelin stars, always eagerly-awaited by the restaurant industry as well as keen foodies, has kept the region in the spotlight. As previously reported, all our local Michelin star holders – Restaurant Pine and Restaurant Hjem in Northumberland as well as Kenny Atkinson’s Solstice and The House of Tides in Newcastle – have retained their coveted stars.
And there are new winners too. During the award ceremony on Monday, Michelin presented 22 new stars – as well as five green stars, which celebrate a more eco-friendly approach to dining, plus three new two-star awards – and one of the new stars went to a fine dining restaurant just an hour’s drive from Newcastle which local food-lovers no doubt will also want to explore.
Forge at Middleton Lodge Estate, at the village of Middleton Tyas, North Yorkshire, has earned its first Michelin star for its high quality food, building upon the green star accolade the estate achieved last year along with recognition for chef Jake Jones.
It’s here – just a couple of miles north of Scotch Corner – that Jake, who won Michelin’s Young Chef of the Year award in 2024, has been working his magic and he has also, says Michelin, delivered upon that promise and is combining skilful cooking with a sustainable approach.
(Image: Credit: Rebecca Hope/Forge)
So what can Geordie diners find if they make the journey? Well, clearly a great meal while the Middleton Lodge Estate combines an award-winning hotel and a ‘forest spa‘ for anyone looking to really make the most of a trip.
Michelin highlights Forge’s creative cooking which it says “demonstrates a strong grasp of balance and flavour with dishes that allow these local ingredients to shine” and it cites a “picture-perfect Reuben blackberry and pineapple weed tart” which sounds interesting enough to whet anyone’s appetite.
That location has to be another winner. As the restaurant’s name gives away, it is inside an actual forge which once served the 200-acre Middleton Lodge Estate of which it’s a part and which boasts an ‘estate-to-plate’ ethos.
Seasonal produce grown on the estate is included in its tasting menu – which is described as being inspired by the elements and offers vegetarian and vegan alternatives too – and the team even harvest their own honey and birch sap. Head chef Jake has explained: “We have a two-acre kitchen garden that grows produce throughout the seasons which is used to create the tasting experiences at Forge.
“The team also forage ingredients from the estate’s landscape and work with local farmers and producers to ensure low food miles.” Forge has two tasting menu options on offer – a six-course and a 10-course feast – which offer the likes of Musselburgh leeks in pumpkin seed miso; Scottish crab and sea lettuce tartlette and dry-aged red deer.
A post on the Middleton Lodge Estate Facebook page, which shared the news of its top award on Monday, said: “We’re beyond delighted to have received a Michelin star for our fine dining restaurant, Forge, this evening at The Michelin Guide Ceremony for Great Britain & Ireland 2025. This is such an achievement for the estate and we couldn’t be more proud of head chef, Jake Jones and the estate team.”
To make a booking at Forge which is open from Thursday to Sunday, 7pm-9pm, see here. The next booking date showing this Wednesday as still being available was February 28.
Join our Things To Do WhatsApp community
Join our Things To Do community for all the latest news What’s On news sent direct to your phone.
To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is click on the link and press ‘join community’.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/fine-dining-restaurant-hour-newcastle-30989867
