When husband and wife team Kevin and Nicola Tickle took on a crumbling 17th century coaching inn in Cumbria, their main aim was to bring an old pub back to life at the heart of the community. But now their efforts have seen them land their first Michelin Star - considered the most prestigious of all foodie awards.
They bought the former Crown Inn in the tiny village of High Newton with the aim of revitalising it as a foodie pub. Re-naming it Heft, the restaurant first opened its doors to the public in 2021 in the midst of the pandemic.
Head chef Kevin set about creating a "playful and original" menu for the pub setting that swiftly started to rack up the rave reviews. Kevin has a 20-year pedigree working in Michelin Star restaurants, having worked at the iconic L'Enclume in Cartmel just down the road from Heft which now holds 3 Michelin Stars.
Read more: The Lake District hotel that makes you feel like you've headed to paradise
After receiving the news on Monday night, the couple were left "over the moon". They said: "Being awarded a Michelin star is totally unexpected, we’ve just tried to do our best to bring a village pub back to life and put it back at the heart of the community that surrounds it.
"We really didn’t think we would be in the running this year, we really can’t describe what this means to us both, especially with all that’s been thrown at us in the last couple of years.
"We couldn’t be prouder of everyone that works with us; for us this is a real team effort. We’ve taken our time and hopefully the work we’ve put in has helped build a solid foundation for the future.
"Heft is about our surroundings and our sense of belonging to this place. The food we create and serve reflects our passion for the place we are lucky enough to call home."
Both Nicola and Kevin grew up in the Lake District, within farming families and seeing first hand the provenance of the food on their tables. It would inspire their careers and philosophies, and when the couple became parents for the first time decided the time was right to open their own venue together.
They lovingly restored the former coaching inn, stripping it back to its old stone floors and restoring old stone fireplaces. Having opened in the summer of 2021 it swiftly began to rack up the awards, and is currently in the Top 50 Gastropubs and sitting at 22 in Square Meal's Top 100 Restaurants
Heft has swiftly gained a loyal following, both within their Cumbrian community and, as word spread, foodies travelling from much further afield. Now with a Michelin Star, they can expect to see business boosted even further with the guide's recommendation that it's a place "worth taking a diversion for".
Its recognition comes amid a huge night for the Lake District at this year's Michelin ceremony. For Cumbria now boasts 11 Michelin Star restaurants, more than any other area outside of London.
During the ceremony this week, a total of 20 new Michelin One Star awards were presented, 4 new Michelin Green Stars and 3 new Michelin Two Star awards were presented.
There are now a total of 188 restaurants in the UK which hold at least one Michelin Star, placing Heft in exclusive company. Manchester retained its one Michelin Star for mana in Ancoats, while Stockport's Where The Light Gets In retained its Michelin Green Star for sustainability.
The Michelin entry for Heft hails its "depth and originality". It says: "This 17C village inn has been sympathetically restored by Cumbrian born-and-bred couple Kevin and Nicola Tickle – and the locals are loving them for it. Kevin’s inspiration for the tasting menu comes from the seasons, the surroundings, his imagination and his local foraging knowledge."
Heft currently offers one menu per service, with a four course at lunch and a ten course at dinner. Lunch is £37.50 per person and Dinner is £95.00 per person. Although they have previously announced that prices will rise from May 1 with lunch at £45.00 per person and Dinner will be £110.00 per person.
They also serve a popular "Sunday Service" two course menu for £34.50 per person.
Stand-out tasting menu dishes include mutton ham, Legbar yolk and sea truffle crumpet; Oxtail & thyme custard, bone marrow enoki and tarragon. The playful menus have also included chip shop curry and scraps; Stotty’s red deer, fennel, hen of the woods and naughty sauce and Yorkshire rhubarb.
Read next:
- We stayed at the incredible dinosaur park with dino restaurant 90 minutes from Manchester
- The little Italian restaurant that Man City stars flock to
- The Greater Manchester farmers' market named among best in the UK
- Huge all-pink cafe EL&N will open soon at Trafford Palazzo
- The hidden Manchester restaurant under a railway arch given prestigious award
