Auction House at Louth ranks in the Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants 2026
Auction House, Cornmarket, Louth; a dish of belly pork, mash, apple, gravy, pork crackling and vegetables(Image: Grimsby Live)
It’s officially one of the top 100 restaurants in which to dine out, but guests of Auction House, Louth, already know that. Good Food Guide, the authority on eating out around Britain since 1951, announced its list of Britain’s 100 Best Local Restaurants 2026, in partnership with Square, at an awards ceremony at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, in London, today (Monday, July 13).
Among those taking the honours is Auction House, which appears in the top 100. Now in their 16th year, the Best Local Restaurant awards celebrate the community driven restaurants that offer brilliant value for money and top-quality cooking in a relaxed, convivial setting.
For the first time, this year’s list is ranked and Auction House takes 93rd spot. In a year of rapidly rising costs for hospitality, this year’s list reflects the proliferation of micro restaurants and multi-strand business models.
While 10 per cent of entrants squeeze in 20 or fewer guests, more than 25 per cent of businesses in the list rely on additional income from trading as delis, wine shops or cafés. Auction House offers an intimate 24 covers, its dining space split over two floors at the Cornmarket venue.
The restaurant’s recently posted on its Facebook page about its guest reviews, saying: “Nothing makes us happier than seeing our guests leave with amazing memories. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share your kind words and support.
“Your reviews inspire us to keep delivering the best experience every single day. We can’t wait to welcome you back again soon.”
One diner had commented about their second time visiting and pledging to “absolutely be back”. They approved of the “delicious” food and the “lovely, attentive and friendly” staff.
Another person spoke of the “amazing and surprising” food combinations. They said: “You could tell that each element in our dishes was treated with such care that turned every bite into an unforgettable experience of pure bliss.”
Grimsby Live’s Peter Craig enjoyed a celebration meal at Auction House earlier this year and remarked on the “magnificent-tasting food”. He said: “A perfectly cooked meal has a way of transporting you back to tastes you treasure.
“Gareth [former Grimsby student Gareth Bartram] changes his menus frequently, so we were delighted to have hit on a spectacular meal. Equally impressive was the service by well-trained, highly professional and the friendliest of staff.”
The upstairs dining area at the Auction House, Cornmarket, Louth(Image: GrimsbyLive)
Chloë Hamilton, head of reviews and listings at the Good Food Guide, said of this year’s list: “In the face of adversity, creativity has flourished in unusual and unlikely places. It has been hugely rewarding to see how these tiny operations are offering outstanding quality in a way that so clearly strikes a chord with the local crowd.
“Arrive with an open mind and a good appetite and you’ll be brilliantly rewarded.” For the second year running, Britain’s 100 Best Local Restaurants is in partnership with business technology platform, Square.
Commenting on the partnership, Lizzie Barclay, head of international marketing at Square, said: “The Good Food Guide is the ultimate companion for food lovers, so we’re delighted to partner with them for another year to shine a light on the country’s most exceptional local restaurants. The incredible businesses on this list have all the ingredients that make independent hospitality so special – the passion, the personal touch, and the community.
“Square supports hospitality businesses like these across the UK with the tools that help restaurateurs to operate efficiently, freeing them up to focus on doing what they love.”
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