Plates London becomes first vegan restaurant in UK to win Michelin star – here are 3 reasons it's so special (and how to book a table)
Plates London has made history as the first fully vegan restaurant in the UK to receive a Michelin star. The East London restaurant, located on Old Street, was one of 26 restaurants to be recognised at the prestigious Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2025 ceremony, held in Glasgow on Monday.
Wondering, what makes Plates London so special? Here’s are three reasons this East London hotspot is a game-changer.
1. Plates London focuses on seasonal ingredients
Forget processed meat substitutes – Plates London is all about celebrating vegetables in their purest, most exciting form. ‘The restaurant delivers seasonal menus of nature-inspired creativity,’ it says on its website.
Chef Kirk Haworth and his team make dishes using the best British, seasonal produce – proving that plant-based food can be every bit as delicious as any other fine dining experience.
2. The chef behind it has serious credentials
If you think ‘vegan fine dining’ sounds niche, think again. Kirk Haworth trained in some of the world’s best kitchens – including The French Laundry and Sat Bains – and even won Champion of Champions on the popular cooking show Great British Menu.
His journey to veganism wasn’t a trend – it was personal. After being diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2016, he completely re-evaluated his diet and approach to cooking (without compromising on taste or creativity), which led to him and his sister Keely Haworth launching a series of supper clubs. ‘We came to plant-based by way of health, for people and the planet,’ they say.
Plates London followed in July 2024. ‘Plates was born from a lifelong fascination with food, a deep appreciation of nature, flavour and a passion for sustainable craft,’ they add.
Within minutes of opening reservations, the website crashed from demand.
3. It’s not ‘just’ a vegan restaurant
Asked at the event what he loved about cooking vegan dishes, Haworth said:
‘Trying to get rid of that word is everything that I love about it. It’s just about flavour, that’s all it’s about. Flavour, excitement, innovation, and trying to take it to a new space of deliciousness.’
That philosophy is at the heart of Plates. It’s not about serving food that’s ‘pretty good for a vegan restaurant’ – it’s about serving exceptional food, full-stop.
Michelin’s judges agreed, praising Haworth for ‘taking his classical training and inventively adapting it to a vegan diet.’
How Plates London is making history for plant-based fine dining
Plates London was one of nine restaurants in London to win their first Michelin star this year, joining the likes of Oma in Borough Market and AngloThai in Marylebone.
Meanwhile, Moor Hall in Aughton, near Liverpool, became only the 10th restaurant in the UK and Ireland to achieve the highly coveted three-star status. But Plates’ win feels like a real turning point – proving that plant-based food has officially entered the fine dining elite.
How to get a table at Plates London
If you want to see what all the hype is about, you’ll need to be quick. The next booking window (for May to July) opens on 13 February at 12 noon – and given that the last one sold out in minutes, you’ll want to set a reminder.
Can’t get in? You can also join the waitlist for cancellations and new availability.
Book now: plates-london.com
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