LI~LY in Knutsford is crowned Cheshire's restaurant of the year

It has been quite a year on King Street. LI~LY Restaurant by Aiden Byrne, the intimate Knutsford dining room run by chef Aiden Byrne and his wife Sarah, has been named Cheshire Restaurant of the Year at the 2026 Cheshire Life Food & Drink Awards, while Aiden himself was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the county's food scene.

The double success, celebrated at an awards evening at Carden Park Hotel hosted by author, broadcaster and Cheshire Life columnist Suzan Holder, came less than three years after the restaurant first opened its doors. For a young business, it is a striking measure of how quickly LI~LY has become a fixture of the county's dining calendar.

The awards have arrived alongside recognition from the national guides. LI~LY was awarded three AA Rosettes for 2026 and then, as the Chester Standard reported, made the leap to four rosettes in the space of just six months. The restaurant is also listed in the MICHELIN Guide, whose inspectors have praised its detailed, eye-catchingly presented cooking.

Part of the charm is the setting. Aiden and Sarah restored a 400-year-old black and white timbered building on King Street, giving the restaurant a sense of history that sits neatly alongside the precision of the food. It is a room that feels personal rather than grand, which suits the couple's hands-on approach.

The cooking is built around seasonal tasting menus, with five-course and nine-course options shaped by the freshest ingredients from trusted local suppliers. Expect technically adept dishes, carefully composed plates and a menu that shifts as the seasons turn, so regulars always find something new.

Diners have been equally enthusiastic. The restaurant earned a Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Best of the Best award for 2026 and sits at the top of the site's rankings for Knutsford, a reflection of just how warmly the town has taken to its newest star.

For Knutsford, already well stocked with good places to eat, LI~LY adds a genuine destination restaurant to the high street, one that is drawing food lovers from well beyond Cheshire. With the accolades still arriving, booking ahead is strongly advised.

LI~LY Restaurant by Aiden Byrne is at 48 King Street, Knutsford. Find menus and reservations at lilyrestaurant.co.uk.