Michel Roux presented with Mentor Chef Award at Michelin 2024

Michel Roux received a special award at the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland's 2024 ceremony.

He was presented with the Mentor Chef Award for his dedication to young talent in the industry and to recognise how many chefs who now have stars started their careers in his kitchen.

The award comes three weeks after he closed his family's restaurant, Le Gavroche in London, on 13 January after 57 years of trading.

Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides, said: “Le Gavroche was exactly what I imagined it to be. A rich, luxurious and proudly French restaurant. It helped define gastronomy in this country.”

He added that the history of Le Gavroche was “bound up in the history of the guide itself”.

Roux said Le Gavroche "left on a high" but he would miss “his team and seeing the next generation coming through”.

“That gives me the most pleasure, seeing young talent coming through and chasing their dreams,” he added.

Roux was then invited to present the Young Chef Award to Jake Jones, head chef of Forge at Middleton Lodge Estate in Middleton Tyas, south of Darlington.

As Roux handed the award to Jones, who only joined Forge in February 2023, he encouraged the industry to nuture its talent: “To become a great chef you need a great mentor and they need to spend time with the apprentices and youth to reap the benefits.”

The special awards were handed out at the Michelin presentation ceremony at Manchester's Midland hotel this evening. Roux then remained on stage to hand out the one-star awards to 18 new restaurants.

Sandia Chang, co-founder and sommelier at Kitchen Table, was then invited to present further special awards, including the Service Award, which went to Robbie Ashby from Stage in Exeter.

The Sommelier Award was handed to Valentin Mouillard, head sommelier at L'Enclume, while the Exceptional Cocktails Award went to Ryan McHarg, head bartender at the Spence restaurant and cocktail bar situated within the Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh.

Six new two-star restaurants were also announced in the ceremony, while the Ledbury in London was awarded three stars.