A RESTAURANT which burned down three years ago has risen from the ashes to be listed in the top 100 UK restaurants by the Sunday Times.

Husband and wife team Laurie and Jacqueline Gear, opened the critically acclaimed Artichoke restaurant in 2002. This year they were placed 63rd on the list of top UK restaurants, ahead of two and three Michelin starred restaurants, some of which are run by celebrity chefs.

Mr Gear said: “We are absolutely delighted to be included in this list, and this recognition is a reflection of how incredibly hard-working and committed the whole team is.”

In 2008 the restaurant burned down after a neighbouring premises caught fire, leaving the couple to rebuild from scratch. Mr Gear spent the summer of 2009 working at Noma in Copenhagen, where the ethos is on foraging for the best of the natural ingredients and getting the flavour of the local land into dishes, inspiring him to do the same at the Artichoke.

The Artichoke has also received two rosettes from the AA, two Couverts in the Michelin Guide and a top score for cooking in the Hardens Restaurant Guide.