MIXED fortunes were in the stars for Herefordshire and borders restaurants with Michelin's announcement of this year's additions and deletions to its prestigious awards list.
Hibiscus in Ludlow has been awarded a second star while Norton House in Symonds Yat West is the recipient of a Bib Hotel award for the first time, an award denoting 'good accommodation at moderate prices'.
The ever-popular Walnut Tree Inn, near Abergavenny, however, has lost the Michelin star it had held for two years, but Francesco Mattioli is unworried.
"Having the star made no difference to business - after all, Franco Taruschio, who made the Walnut Tree the legendary restaurant it is, didn't have one - and I don't think losing it will harm us.
"It's been a bad year, with a series of staff injuries and the departure of chef Stephen Terry but I'm looking forward to new chef Spencer Ralph joining us on February 9."
Another to miss out in the Michelin stakes was The Waterdine in Knighton, which lost its Bib Gourmand award.
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