Michelin-starred York restaurant Roots has been named one of the Top 100 restaurants in the UK.
The Tommy Banks-owned establishment on Marygate appears in the Top 100 of Harden’s Best UK Restaurants 2026 guide, placing at number 48.
Celebrating 35 years of polling diners for their views on the nation’s best places to eat, the Harden’s guide is the only one based on feedback from normal diners rather than a group of professional inspectors.
A total of 30,000 reports are submitted from a survey of 2,500 diners, and restaurants at all price levels are included: from street food vendors to the country’s most ambitious dining rooms, with 2,800 restaurants listed in total.
The Harden guide says of Roots: “’Perfect from start to finish’ say fans of the ‘stunning food and amazing wine list’”’ at the Banks family’s converted pub in the city centre, where ‘innovative preparation methods transform humble and not so humble ingredients to make everything into a delight’.”
And it’s not the only Tommy Banks-led restaurant to have made the Top 100, as his country pub The Black Swan in Oldstead also made the list at number 31, and commended for its ‘amazing food and amazing service’.
Other North Yorkshire restaurants to have made the top 100 list are The Angel in Hetton (22), Myse in Hovingham (28), and The Old Deanery in Ripon (89).
Reflecting on the last 12 months, Peter Harden, guide editor and co-founder of Harden’s, said: “It’s understandable that over the last year the hospitality industry has been toiling away under a cloud of gloomsterism. Hit by food inflation, rising wages, relentless rent increases and soaring utilities – some long-term operators say that 2025 is the toughest year they can recall.
“However, what our survey results and data-crunching from across the sector shows is the remarkable resilience at work from those in the trade: our number ofentries remains very steady and strong newcomers are emerging in each area of a quality that is probably better than ever.
“What is challenging for suppliers can be good for consumers. Customer expectations are so high now, restaurants have to work ever-harder to cut through and we’re seeing a number of new openings from across the UK going straight into the Top 100.
“This really is testament to the rigorous standards, hard work and innovation being put in by front and back of house teams throughout the nation who are impressively determined to find a way in difficult circumstances and continue to raise the bar to bring diners high quality experiences.”
