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| Powys restaurant The Checkers returns Michelin star | Powys restaurant The Checkers returns Michelin star |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The owners of a Michelin-star restaurant have taken the unusual step of handing back their coveted award. | The owners of a Michelin-star restaurant have taken the unusual step of handing back their coveted award. |
| Recognition in the famous guide is regarded as the pinnacle for any restaurant in the world. | Recognition in the famous guide is regarded as the pinnacle for any restaurant in the world. |
| Yet ahead of publication of the 2019 edition on October 1, the owners of The Checkers in Montgomery, Powys, say they no longer wish to feature in the guide. | Yet ahead of publication of the 2019 edition on October 1, the owners of The Checkers in Montgomery, Powys, say they no longer wish to feature in the guide. |
| Stephane Borie, Sarah Francis and Kathryn Francis say they are "putting family first". | Stephane Borie, Sarah Francis and Kathryn Francis say they are "putting family first". |
| Sarah and her partner Stephane Borie have three young children while her sister Kathryn is also a mother of two. | Sarah and her partner Stephane Borie have three young children while her sister Kathryn is also a mother of two. |
| "I don't know how we've done it for all these years, juggling the kids with working split shifts and late hours," said Ms Francis. | "I don't know how we've done it for all these years, juggling the kids with working split shifts and late hours," said Ms Francis. |
| "It has been a joy to have the star and the most amazing news when we got it. It was great for trade and brilliant for the town. | |
| "But more for us, it's about taking the business in a new direction and putting our family first. | "But more for us, it's about taking the business in a new direction and putting our family first. |
| "It means we can work in the day and have our evenings to ourselves." | "It means we can work in the day and have our evenings to ourselves." |
| Mr Borie is set to expand his culinary portfolio for private clients across Europe though will make guest appearances at the family home in Montgomery. | Mr Borie is set to expand his culinary portfolio for private clients across Europe though will make guest appearances at the family home in Montgomery. |
| Sarah and Kathryn Francis will re-launch the restaurant in November as Checker Pantry, open for breakfast and lunch as well as the luxury bed and breakfast accommodation. | Sarah and Kathryn Francis will re-launch the restaurant in November as Checker Pantry, open for breakfast and lunch as well as the luxury bed and breakfast accommodation. |
| However it brings an end to a seven-year run with the famous award since The Checkers first appeared in the guide in 2011. | However it brings an end to a seven-year run with the famous award since The Checkers first appeared in the guide in 2011. |
| "It was an emotional decision because we have absolutely treasured our star," said Ms Francis. | |
| "We've loved getting it, loved keeping it and always nervous every year as to whether we were going to be in the guide. So to give it back was a big decision but ultimately the right one." | "We've loved getting it, loved keeping it and always nervous every year as to whether we were going to be in the guide. So to give it back was a big decision but ultimately the right one." |
| Last year, top French restaurant Le Suquet shocked the world when it withdrew from the guide's listings, having held a three-star rating for 18 years. | Last year, top French restaurant Le Suquet shocked the world when it withdrew from the guide's listings, having held a three-star rating for 18 years. |
| Chef Sebastien Bras said he no longer wanted to cook under the "huge pressure" of being judged by its inspectors. | Chef Sebastien Bras said he no longer wanted to cook under the "huge pressure" of being judged by its inspectors. |
| It was said to be the first time Michelin had ever allowed a restaurant to bow out. | |
| In September, celebrity chef Marco Pierre White was reported to have refused Michelin Guide inspectors permission to visit his latest restaurant in Singapore. | |
| The new list of entrants to Michelin Guide is due to be announced next month and will celebrate the best 170 restaurants in the country. | The new list of entrants to Michelin Guide is due to be announced next month and will celebrate the best 170 restaurants in the country. |