Torbay restaurant celebrates 20th year of Michelin star with special menu

Torbay's only Michelin-starred restaurant has retained its status for another year.

The Elephant restaurant on Torquay Harbour is celebrating 20 years of holding a Michelin star with a special menu influenced by guest suggestions.

The Elephant by Simon Hulstone was awarded a Michelin star for the 20th consecutive year earlier this month. It was the first restaurant in Torquay to be awarded one and the only one to retain it.

Above: The Elephant looks out across Torquay Harbour

This marks another achievement for the family business which has received multiple awards since it opened in 2005.

To mark the occasion, the restaurant will host various collaborations and special events throughout the year, beginning with a nostalgia menu available throughout March.

Subscribers to the restaurant’s newsletter have been invited to suggest past dishes they’d like to see return for a limited time. Simon and his team will recreate the most popular choices, which will feature on both the set lunch and tasting lunch menus.

Above: The Elephant has a frequently changing seasonal menu

Simon said: “The Elephant has evolved significantly over the years. We've embraced a more sustainable approach, transitioned from a two-story to a one-story restaurant, and witnessed incredible talent develop in both our kitchen and front of house.

“For Katy and me, this journey has been incredibly rewarding. One constant has been our wonderful guests—those who have dined with us for the past 20 years and those who supported us by ordering our meal boxes during lockdowns. As a token of our gratitude, we wanted to involve our guests in the celebrations by giving them a chance to influence the special menu. I can’t wait to see which dishes make the cut!”

To book a table at The Elephant in Torquay, visit: https://www.elephantrestaurant.co.uk/reservations/