Alnwick’s Sonnet added to Michelin Guide

Alnwick restaurant Sonnet has been added to the Michelin Guide ahead of this year’s Michelin Award Ceremony.

Owned and run by Gary McDermott and Claudia Mazareanu – who have more than 20 years hospitality experience between them – the restaurant has inspired a loyal following despite being open for less than a year.

Sonnet was added to the guide as part of the final update before The Michelin Award Ceremony 2025, which will take place in Glasgow on February 10.

The guide says: “A sonnet is a 14-line poem, and so the culinary poetry here takes the form of 14 courses, each one crafted with real care by chef Gary McDermott. He and his partner Claudia, a natural host, have created a deeply personal restaurant, with many of the dishes coming with a story attached and plenty of attention given to each of the eight tables. The cooking blends classic French techniques with some well-balanced preserved elements. In an endearing touch that is typical of the place, dinner ends with elevenses for you to take home and enjoy the following morning.”

Sonnet serves a six-course lunch and 14-course dinner tasting menu inspired by the best seasonal produce from a network of local suppliers as well as family recipes. The couple previously ran a Michelin-listed restaurant with rooms inn in Chichester, and Gary is a former head chef of the Michelin-starred Pentonbridge Inn.

Having grown up in Sacriston in County Durham, Gary was keen to return north to launch the couple’s first business and to be able to source from local suppliers including Wilde Farm Estate in Ponteland, Hodgson Fish, and Peelham Farm in the Scottish Borders. Claudia is originally from the Black Sea coast in Romania and the couple met when they were working in a busy hotel. The pair fell in love over cooking and eating together and saw Sonnet as the chance to share this appreciation for produce and hospitality with warmth and humour.

Courses include Cheese What? named from Claudia’s reaction to one of Gary’s inventions, Quavers, and Elevenses – inspired by Gary’s gran and mam stopping to enjoy some homebaking and a cup of tea at 11am each morning.

These personal touches were acknowledged in Michelin’s January newsletter, which said: “There’s something so wonderful and heartening about dining in a restaurant with a personal touch. Sonnet is full of such touches, run with pride and enthusiasm by chef Gary McDermott and his partner Claudia, who runs the service with a genuine, welcoming warmth. The dishes come with several stories attached, like Gary’s mini apple pie made using his grandmother’s puff pastry recipe. The lamb kebab, meanwhile, is inspired by Claudia’s Romanian heritage. Across the board, you get the feeling of eating food cooked with love and care.”

On the listing, Gary said: “What an incredible start to the year! We are blown away to be in the January inspectors’ choice. We are so grateful for all our fantastic guests and our hard-working team that make our little restaurant great.”

Sonnet offers a single service 14-course dinner from 6.30pm Wednesday-Saturday priced at £95 per person. A single service six-course lunch menu is served from 12.30pm Wednesday-Saturday and is priced at £40 per person.

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