The acknowledgement of the work of executive chef John Williams and his team at The Ritz Restaurant is one of many new stars granted in the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2017.

Williams said: “It is the greatest honour to have been awarded a Michelin star today. I am extremely proud to receive this recognition for the first time as part of the culinary history of this great hotel.”

Also in London, The Lanesborough’s restaurant Celeste gained a star, only having opened last year under chef Eric Frechon and executive chef Florian Favario.

At other UK hotels, Michael Wignall has earned two Michelin stars for Gidleigh Park, where he took up residency only in January.

The Devon hotel is part of Andrew Brownsword Hotels and this was the first year Michelin evaluated Wignall’s menus.

The listings were announced at an event this week in London, the first time the awards had been announced at a live event since the Great Britain and Ireland version of the guide was introduced to Britain in 1911.

Wignall said: “Since arriving at Gidleigh Park in January this year, the team has worked tirelessly and it’s great to see their efforts recognised with two stars from the Michelin Guide”.

Some of the other hotels that earned themselves Michelin stars included The Wild Rabbit in the Cotswolds village of Kingham. The “restaurant with rooms” was awarded a Michelin Star for its “classic British dishes” served in a cosy and elegant pub atmosphere.

Tudor Room at Great Fosters Hotel in Egham also got its first star, as did Peel’s at Hampton Manor Hotel in Hampton in Arden in West Midlands and Gilpin Hotel & Lake House in Windermere, Cumbria.

Standalone restaurant first timers to get stars in the guide include The Ninth, Veeraswamy, Ellory, Pidgin, Five Fields and Trinity in London; Crown in Burchett’s Green; Sosban & The Old Butchers, Anglesey; Heron & Grey in Dublin; Forest Side in Grasmere; Thomas Carr at The Olive Room, Ilfracombe; and James Sommerin, Penarth in Wales.

In other Michelin listings, Heston Blumenthal’s legendary Fat Duck in Berkshire won its three stars back, after completely losing Michelin status last year when it temporarily moved to Melbourne, Australia.

The Fat Duck is one of only four restaurants in the guide with the coveted three stars. The other three held onto their status - Gordon Ramsay in London’s Chelsea; Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester in London and another in Bray – Alain Roux’s Waterside Inn.