JUNIPER RETAINS MICHELIN STATUS AS NORTHERN STARS FADE

Altrincham’s acclaimed Juniper restaurant has retained its status as Greater Manchester’s only Michelin-starred fine dining venue after the illustrious guide awarded it a bauble for the 11th consecutive year.

The restaurant’s achievement is all the more impressive given the tight reign Michelin has kept on stars in its 2008 UK guide. That has seen three northern venues lose their stars and no new stars being awarded to any restaurant in the North of England.

“It’s always a great achievement to retain a star but this year more so as the inspectors appear to have been even more demanding than usual,” commented Juniper’s head chef, Paul Kitching. “I’m not sure people realise quite how hard it is for a restaurant to secure and keep its star status so I’m particularly proud that our small provincial restaurant has done so for 11 years now. It’s a great feat and just reward for the hard work I, my brigade and Juniper’s front of house team put in day in, day out.”

Since opening in December 1995 Juniper has secured countless accolades over the years with its Michelin star complemented by the rare awarding of four AA rosettes, placing it “Amongst the very best restaurants in the British Isles, where the cooking demands national recognition.” Renowned chefs have also lined up to praise Kitching with Gordon Ramsay describing him as “pure talent” and Marco Pierre White noting his commitment to personally cooking for his customers saying “I take my hat off to him.”