I visited the West Midlands restaurant named the best in the UK & it really was special

Squaremeal’s Top 100 Guide saw a West Midlands restaurant which only opened a year ago crowned the best restaurant in the UK.

The fine dining venue in Solihull won the favour of both readers and critics for its top quality food. So I went along to find out more about the celebrated venue called Grace & Savour located at Hampton Manor in Hampton-in-Arden - and to find out what plans they have for the future.

Annette Taylor, House Manager says: “I think what makes Grace & Savour such a special experience is that we are connecting people with the food again - where it comes from the stories behind it. Our whole ethos is to tell the stories of the growers and the farmers of the UK.”

David Taylor, Head Chef says: “However we’re also understanding that this is our guests’ time. So it’s their celebration - it’s their birthday, so it’s not about us and what we think, or an ethos or concept that they have to try and grasp with.

“It’s their evening so we want them to enjoy it their pace. You come here getting to experience it the way you want to. And It’s just an evening about you two wanting to get some time together because the kids have stretched you - then brilliant, you’re welcome.

“If you’ve got someone who comes - you’ve got all these things you want to find out about I’d really love to share, but also like never forgetting like it’s a dining experience. And I think that kind of flexible experience is what makes it quite unique for people because they experience it in their own way and what they want to take on board.”

David Taylor began his career working under Birmingham’s celebrity chef Glynn Purnell before working at Maaemo in Norway which won three Michelin stars. He now finds himself returning, providing his immersive fine dining experience at the stunning Hampton Manor in Hampton-in-Arden. So what is it that brought him back to the region?

David says: “The West Midlands has always been very close to my heart. There was a thing saying it’s an international city with a local heart - and it’s just always been the feeling I have for Birmingham.

“To see it flourish and grow, and grow, and not stop, not get put down, but keep on growing is wonderful. Now I think the main thing is I went away and then came back after six and a half years - and it’s just exploded!

“There used to be a real focus on how many Michelin stars you had - but there’s just so much variety here. It makes it such an exciting dining scene. And yeah, I’ve just always had a soft spot -the first time Annette and I met I said I’ve got a soft spot for Birmingham!”

Annette added: “We’re still in our baby stages. We’re not even one year in, and a lot has happened in one year, and a lot is going to happen the next year - so we’re very excited about that.”