Four restaurants in RBWM and Marlow recognised among SquareMeal's Top 100

The UK’s leading independent restaurant guide, SquareMeal, has unveiled its UK Top 100 Restaurants for 2026, and four venues from East Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire have been recognised among the country’s very best.

SquareMeal’s annual ranking celebrates standout dining experiences nationwide, and unlike many other lists, it excludes London restaurants to ensure regional talent takes centre stage.

The 2026 edition, published on January 28, was compiled using a mix of thousands of reader votes and insight from SquareMeal’s team of expert critics. The guide said the list offers a ‘true snapshot’ of the UK’s diverse food culture.

Among the highest-ranked local entries is Woven by Adam Smith at Coworth Park in Ascot, which placed at No 14.

Chef Adam Smith has held a Michelin star at the hotel for years, but Woven marks a major relaunch of the restaurant, now with Smith’s name above the door.

Closer to home, Maidenhead’s neighbourhood favourite Seasonality, based on Queen Street, secured the 58th spot.

Seasonality opened in April 2021, founded by husband-and-wife team Wesley and Francesca Smalley.

The business initially offered dine-at-home boxes and monthly supper tasting evenings, later adding lunch services before expanding into evening dining.

In April 2022, it evolved into a full restaurant and true to its name, Seasonality continues to focus on ingredients with menus changing throughout the year.

Two Marlow gastropubs have also earned national recognition, with both Tom Kerridge’s Michelin-starred The Coach on West Street and contemporary bistro pub and wine bar The Oarsman on Spittal Street appearing in the rankings at No 88 and No 99 respectively.

Both venues are also featured this week in the 2026 Estrella Damm Top 100 Gastropub list.

SquareMeal, founded more than 30 years ago, reaches over one million diners each month and is widely trusted for its mix of professional reviews and reader recommendations. Its UK Top 100 list is considered the guide’s flagship annual ranking.

Despite ongoing challenges across the hospitality sector, SquareMeal said the resilience of the industry remains clear, with new openings and high-quality dining experiences continuing to emerge.

SquareMeal also credited readers for helping uncover restaurants ‘flying under the radar’, with nominations helping shape which venues were visited and reassessed.

Explaining this year’s judging focus, SquareMeal content director Caroline Hendry said: “For 2026, judges placed renewed emphasis not only on exceptional cooking, but also on sustainability and a commitment to positive, people-first working environments.

“With professional kitchens often recognised as high-pressure spaces, this year’s list highlights restaurants actively prioritising staff welfare alongside culinary excellence.”