A highly respected eatery in Louth is the only restaurant in Lincolnshire to be named on the Good Food Guide’s latest UK top 100 list.

The Auction House on Cornmarket has been ranked number 93 on the coveted list after also making the cut in 2025.

No other businesses in the county are named, making the Louth restaurant not only the best in the county but also one of the best in the whole country.

Jubilant staff and customers have been celebrating, and a post, as part the Auction House’s social media output, reads:

The Auction House in Louth, which has been named one of the top local restaurants in the UK.

placeholder image — The Auction House in Louth, which has been named one of the top local restaurants in the UK.

"From more than 60,000 entries, we have been recognised alongside so many incredible restaurants. To named 93rd in the UK is something we’re immensely proud of.

"This achievement is a reflection of every single member of our team, whose passion and hard work make what we do possible every day.

"We’re absolutely over the moon with this recognition, and it’s only made us even more excited for what’s to come.

"A huge thankyou to our team, our loyal guests and our brilliant suppliers.

A well-earned celebratory drink for Gareth Bartram, the chef at The Auction House restaurant in Louth.

"Here’s to celebrating this milestone together and continuing to create unforgettable experiences for you all.

"And of course, thankyou to the Good Food Guide for including us and acknowledging the hard work that goes into every service.”

The award-winning Auction House is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on Wednesdays to Saturdays for casual dining in the heart of Louth.

It offers snacks, small plates and tasting menus, all created by chef Gareth Bartram, using top-tier ingredients that are sourced locally and internationally.

A peek inside the award-winning Auction House restaurant in Louth.

The restaurant’s website proclaims: “Chef Gareth offers a menu using the finest produce available in an intimate, relaxed atmosphere, ensuring every dish shines through.

"Expect a dynamic dining experience with plenty of laughter, music and unforgettable flavours.”

The honour is rich reward for Bartram, who hails from Grimsby and fell in love with food working in a local butcher’s shop, aged 16, with his mother.

After studying at catering college, he landed a job in London at Gordon Ramsay’s Boxwood Cafe at the age of 19. Three years working in Bath followed before he moved to Winteringham Fields, a five-star hotel near Scunthorpe, where he became head chef.

Gareth Bartram, the acclaimed chef at The Auction House restaurant in Louth, pictured as he appeared on the BBC TV show, 'The Great British Menu'.

Bartram has twice appeared on the hit BBC TV show, ‘The Great British Menu’ -- in 2021 and 2023.

The Good Food Guide is a renowned, independent directory of the best restaurants, cafes and pubs in Britain.

First published in 1951, it relies on anonymous, paid-for inspections and reader feedback to guarantee complete impartiality.

Transitioning from print to a digital platform, it is now accessed primarily through its app and website.

Every year, it unlocks the UK’s top 100 local restaurants, based on thousands of reader nominations and votes and focusing on independently-run establishments that offer seasonal menus at reasonable prices and are rooted in their local communities.

This year’s number one is La Locanda, an intimate trattoria in Gisburn, Lancashire, with Cantina Caruso, of Margate, Kent, in second spot.

Chloe Hamilton, the guide’s head of reviews and listings, said: “It has been hugely rewarding to see how these local operations are offering outstanding quality in a way that clearly strikes a chord with their customers.

"Arrive with an open mind and a good appetite, and you’ll be brilliantly rewarded.”