Northumberland’s Restaurant Pine has been included in the 360°Eat Guide’s list of the UK’s most sustainable restaurants for the first time.
Pine is seventh in the UK list, achieving the highest possible score of three sustainability circles and a gastronomy rating of 81-85.
The 360°Eat Guide aims to look beyond the plate, not only focusing on quality and the dining experience, but considering the sustainability of the ingredients used and the environmental and social impact of what is served to diners.
Each restaurant that features in the guide is ranked according to two key criteria – gastronomy points and sustainability circles. The points (0-100) reflect the level of gastronomic excellence experienced during the visit – including presentation, taste, texture, and service. One circle indicates a strong commitment in some areas of sustainability, two represents long-term dedication and ambition, and three indicates mastery in all areas of sustainability (seasonality, waste reduction, farmer relations or employee wellbeing).
The guide says: “Cal and Siân Byerley’s first joint project has quickly become a must-visit spot in Northumberland, in the north of England. The standards for ingredients are high; they are sourced locally within a 10-mile radius, working with farmers, foragers and various suppliers who follow organic principles and maintain high animal welfare standards. The cooking is technically refined, yet honest and transparent, with a clear focus on the quality of the ingredients.”
The guide also commends the team for their levels of sustainability, highlighting the fact they grows their own produce – including vegetables, herbs and flowers; have introduced native honeybees to support pollination; operate on a four-day week to support a better work-life balance for team members; and source wine and spirits from local, sustainable producers.
Cal and Sian, co-owners of Restaurant Pine, said: “The entire team believe restaurants can become a catalyst for change, with the way they do things. Being listed in the 360°Eat Guide for the first time with the scores we’ve achieved is incredible and recognises what we’re about as a responsible business in the local community.
“From the very start, we were hugely conscious of the role that we could play in helping to significantly reduce the impact our business had on the environment through the supply chain decisions we made. But the reality is that it’s much wider than that, especially as we’ve started to realise that we can also play a role and positively impact some aspects of community life too by utilising and playing our part in supporting and working with local producers, farmers and growers, which helps feed into the local economy and contributes to local infrastructure as a result.”
The 360°Eat Guide was started by food writer and publisher Pär Bergkvista in 2019 as he realised there was a significant gap in the restaurant industry’s focus on sustainability. The 360°Eat Guide is currently available in 13 countries – including the UK, Denmark, Italy, the USA, Germany and Spain.
