Forest Side in Grasmere earns a Michelin Green Star for garden-led cooking

In a valley famous for its poets, one Grasmere restaurant has been earning attention for something rather more earthy. Forest Side, the country house hotel and restaurant on the edge of the village, received a Michelin Green Star in the 2026 guide.

It was one of only seven restaurants in the UK to gain the award that year, alongside names such as 1887 at the Torridon in Scotland, Knepp Wilding Kitchen in West Sussex and Timberyard in Edinburgh. Time Out and VisitBritain both listed Forest Side as Cumbria's representative on the list.

The Green Star recognises restaurants that lead the way on sustainable gastronomy, and at Forest Side the reasons are easy to see. Michelin's listing notes that the team grows more than 100 vegetables and 25 herbs in its own chemical-free garden. One account suggests the kitchen garden supplies more than half of the seasonal fruit and vegetables that reach the plate.

The Green Star sits alongside the restaurant's Michelin star, which it has held for most of its life since opening in the mid-2010s, making it one of the most consistently celebrated dining rooms in the Lake District.

The kitchen is led by head chef Paul Leonard, who previously cooked at The Devonshire Arms at Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire. Under his direction the cooking is shaped by the seasons and by what the garden and surrounding landscape can provide, with dinner served as a tasting menu.

There is a note of timing to the honour, too. Michelin has announced that the Green Star will be discontinued at the end of 2026 as the guide moves to a new approach, which makes Forest Side one of the last restaurants to receive it.

For diners, the result is a restaurant that feels rooted in its surroundings. Ingredients travel metres rather than miles, and the menu changes as the garden does, giving regular guests a reason to return through the year.

Forest Side is on the outskirts of Grasmere, an easy stroll from the village centre. Tables and overnight stays can be booked through the hotel's website, and it is wise to plan ahead for weekends and holiday periods.