Sonnet Restaurant in Alnwick has been named the UK’s favourite new restaurant by readers of Conde Nast Traveller.
The publication announced the accolade at its Top New Restaurant Awards, which took place in London – recognising Sonnet as “one of the friendliest, least pretentious yet fabulously accomplished fine dining offerings to open in the last year.”
For the full list of winners, click here.
The awards celebrate the best restaurants launched in the last year and judges included Raymond Blanc, Jackson Boxer, chefs Julie Lin and Gizzi Erskine, restaurant critic and food writer Tom Parker Bowles, and TikTok content creator Poppy O’Toole.
The Alnwick restaurant, named after the 14-line poem format which is mirrored in its 14-course tasting menu, is the first restaurant by couple Gary McDermott and Claudia Mazareanu. It opened in early 2024 and has already garnered outstanding reviews as well as being listed in the Michelin Guide.
“The year started off on a high with our entry to the Michelin Guide, but to be voted favourite new restaurant means so much as it’s our customers recommending us,” said Gary and Claudia. “We are just a small restaurant in the North East of England, so to beat contenders from London and across the UK is a real accolade. We’re looking forward to the rest of 2025 and continuing cooking the food we love for customers old and new, as well as developing and creating new and fun dishes.”
