An all vegan spot, a traditional pub and a city centre French restaurant have made the prestigious listThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
A total of 22 restaurants were added to the Michelin Guide in August 2026, including the three Kent representatives.(Image: KentLive)
Three highly regarded Kent restaurants are among the latest to be added to the prestigious Michelin Guide.
Earning a spot on the internationally recognised guide is one of the highest honours a restaurant can receive, serving as a testament to the exceptional quality of food and service on offer.
From an all vegan establishment along the coast, to a city centre French restaurant and a classic British pub serving hearty dishes, these Kent spots were among 22 businesses to be added to the guide in August 2026.
Aster in Broadstairs, Franc in Canterbury and Margate’s The Wellington now proudly represent the Garden of England at a Michelin level.
While their inclusion does not mean that these spots now hold a Michelin Star or Bib Gourmand award, which are only given out at the glitzy Michelin Guide Annual Ceremony, their placement puts them among a curated selection of restaurants that offer “good cooking”. The guide adds: “The Michelin Guide Selection continues to grow and spotlight exceptional food across the UK & Ireland, with 22 more restaurants added to the Guide this month.”
All three Kent restaurants are also newer additions to our county’s dining scene, having only opened their doors in the latter half of 2025. Learn all about these fantastic establishments below.
Aster, BroadstairsContent cannot be displayed without consent
Where: 1 Oscar Road, Broadstairs CT10 1QJ
Opening times:
Monday – ClosedTuesday – ClosedWednesday – 12pm to 2pm, 6pm to 10pmThursday – 12pm to 2pm, 6pm to 10pmFriday – 12pm to 2pm, 6pm to 10pmSaturday – 12pm to 2pm, 6pm to 10pmSunday – 12pm to 6pm
Having only opened its doors in November 2025, Aster in Broadstairs has already made quite an impressive name for itself within Kent’s dining scene. This intimate spot stands out with its fully vegan menu which is “inspired by and crafted from locally sourced wild ingredients and produce from local growers.”
With just eight seats on offer, the cosy restaurant is helmed by experienced chef-owner Luke Crittenden who previously ran the Bib Gourmand-awarded Arya in his hometown of Ramsgate. He later fully embraced veganism and, after spending time in Wales to learn more about wild food ingredients, fermenting and preserving, he returned to Thanet to showcase his refined cooking with customers old and new.
Aster offers a four-course lunch service priced at £45 per person, a seven-course dinner at £75 per head, and a monthly three-course charity Sunday roast for £35. The guide remarked: “Chef Luke Crittenden is a one-man band, both cooking and serving diners with an affable charm.
“His set menus are purely plant-based and showcase both his love of foraging and his skill with various preserving and dehydrating techniques. Dishes such as a birch sap and salted caramel dessert show Crittenden’s talents to the full.”
Find out more on the Aster, including full booking details, here.
Franc, Canterbury
Franc in Canterbury opened its doors last September and specialises in French cuisine(Image: KentLive)
Where: 49 Northgate, Canterbury CT1 1BE
Opening times:
Monday – ClosedTuesday – ClosedWednesday – 5.30pm to 10pmThursday – 12pm to 3pm, 5.30pm to 10pmFriday – 12pm to 3pm, 5.30pm to 10pmSaturday – 12pm to 3pm, 5.30pm to 10pmSunday – 12pm to 4pm
Heading to Canterbury city centre now for a spot of fine French dining. Franc is found within the historic St John’s Hospital almshouses in Northgate and served its first customers last September.
It is owned by duo Dave Hart and Polly Pleasence who previously ran the acclaimed Folkestone Wine Company, which sadly closed its doors last year. Weekly changing set menus carefully crafted with local produce are on offer at this restaurant and bar, available at both lunchtime and in the evening.
The set menu is priced at £39 for two courses, or £45 for three, while walk-ins can enjoy a range of exquisite bar snacks alongside quality wine from France and its neighbours. Inspectors at the Michelin Guide recommend booking early to secure an upstairs table, or take your chances for a light bite in the “equally quirky and cosy” wine bar area.
The guide adds: “The same unfussy, flavour-packed cooking is served on both levels, as a set menu upstairs and an à la carte in the bar, with both French and British influences rubbing shoulders. The likes of lamb rump with broad beans, peas and mint or the terrific apricot and almond crumble deliver tried-and-tested combinations with skill and care.”
Reacting to the news of their inclusion in the guide, the Franc team said in a social media post: “We’re delighted to be listed in this year’s @michelinguide. Thanks to our brilliant staff for all of their hard work! Onwards and upwards!”
Further details about Franc can be found on their website here.
The Wellington, MargateContent cannot be displayed without consent
Where: 1 Duke Street, Margate CT9 1EP
Opening times:
Monday – ClosedTuesday – ClosedWednesday – 12pm to 10pmThursday – 12pm to 10pmFriday – 12pm to 10pmSaturday – 12pm to 10pmSunday – 12pm to 7pm
Last but by no means least, we return to the Thanet coast for some hearty pub grub in The Wellington. Located in Margate’s vibrant Old Town, Chefs Billy Stock and Ellie Topham brought this historic property back to life in December 2025 with an aim to create that traditional boozer feel with an emphasis on food.
Billy has a wealth of experience behind him, having worked in London establishments St John, The Marksman and Rochelle Canteen before opening his first pub in 2021, The Rose in Wickhambreaux, which was recognised in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list. He then worked as head chef at restaurant and wine-bar Sète, in Margate and helped to earn its place in the UK Top 100 Restaurants at the National Restaurant Awards.
Before launching The Wellington, Billy and Ellie ran popular Nashville fried chicken pop-ups in London, Margate and Deal. At the heart of the Margate pub is an emphasis on traditional British dishes alongside influences from classic French cooking.
From seafood dishes to classic pies and Sunday lunches, the homely plates on offer in this welcoming pub and dining room have certainly left a strong impression, with main dishes ranging in price from around £24 to £29. The Michelin Guide comments: “Chef Billy Stock butchers whole animals to underpin his daily handwritten menu of classic French and British dishes that burst with flavour despite only having a few elements on the plate.
“The simple, ingredient-led style is just as evident in seafood dishes such as succulent sea bass with plum tomatoes and a fresh herb salad of dill, chervil, mint and capers. A sun-drenched garden and well-priced wines add to the already mighty appeal.”
Visit The Wellington’s website here for more information.
Dining and Cooking