ILKLEY’S award-winning restaurant The Box Tree has lost its Michelin star, ending a run of 14 successive years with the prestigious ranking.

Establishments deemed the best of the best across Britain are awarded stars each year and listed in The Michelin Guide, and while five Yorkshire venues have retained their single-star status in the latest round, Simon and Rena Gueller’s The Box Tree is a shock omission.

Mr Gueller said: "Obviously I feel very disappointed. It just sets us a new challenge to win that star back again.

"There have been substantial changes at the Box Tree over the last 12 to 18 months. We have brought in a new head chef and handed the reins over to him.

"We have backed him to win his own star. He has not quite done it in his first year but we will give him all the support we can to win it back next year."

Mr Gueller said the achievement of a Michelin star was not their specific reason for cooking: "We cook for our customers and we have a fabulous following," he said. "We have always put them first and that will not change at all. If anything it might well give everyone a better experience because everyone will pull their socks up. The only changes will be for the better."

Mr Gueller said Michelin stars were awarded after a visit by an anonymous inspector and it might well be they wanted to see how the new chef was doing over more visits, before awarding a star.

"It is often the case when you change your chef it causes a ripple in the guide - that is just the way it works," he added. "We all feel very positive about things going forward and it is a fabulous business. It think the new refurbishment is brilliant and it is a beautiful and iconic restaurant. It always has been and always will. I thank everyone for the support they have given and for all the support I know we will have going forward."

The 2019 Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland was revealed at an awards ceremony in Waterloo’s BFI IMAX cinema yesterday. Chefs from across the country gathered to find out if their restaurants had made this year’s guide, which will be officially published on October 5.