Sevenoaks restaurant enters the Michelin Guide with new award
Maria Bradford’s Shwen Shwen focuses on food from Sierra Leone
Maria Bradford - Shwen Shwen
Sevenoaks restaurant Shwen Shwen has been entered into the 2026 Michelin Guide after bagging two stand-out awards at a glittering ceremony at the Convention Centre in Dublin on Monday 9th February.
A total of 1,210 restaurants were included in the selection, which included 37 new Bib Gourmands.
The Michelin Guide Inspectors say: “The Bib Gourmand distinction is The MICHELIN Guide’s way of recognising restaurants that offer good food at a great price. While all Bib Gourmands are unique in style and approach, they share the same spirit of generosity and a commitment to quality cooking.”
Shwen Shwen, which opened in Bank Street last summer, is the project of Medway chef Maria Bradford, who had already become known for her cookbooks focusing on food from Sierra Leone.
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Shwen Shwen also received a special gong having been named Michelin’s Opening of the Year Award.
Judges said: “Maria Bradford’s Shwen Shwen has been one of the year’s biggest triumphs, earning a Bib Gourmand for the self-taught chef’s generous, visually sumptuous and wholly satisfying dishes inspired by her Sierra Leonean heritage. She has ensured the whole restaurant, not just the food, has been a success, with a joyously colourful dining room and slick, attentive service adding to the experience.”
