Richmond-based garden centre delighted as café and head chef Skye Gyngell is awarded one Michelin star.
Petersham offered its congratulations to Ms Gyngell and her hardworking team. The cafe has been closed throughout January but will re-open on Wednesday, February 2.

Ms Gyngell has also recently been named as a UK winner in the Gourmand World Cookbooks Awards 2010. Her third book `How I Cook` won the Best Woman Chef Book category. She will now compete against winners in the same category in other countries for The Best in the World.

She said of the accolade: "Winning a Michelin star is not something we have ever looked for, we have always just put our heads down and worked, putting one foot in front of the other. But it is thrilling to have a star, because it shows that if you believe in something and are true to yourself - recognition will follow. This is affirmation of those beliefs."

The Michelin Guide said that Britain and Irish restaurants can finally "hold their heads up high", in a year that has seen more stars awarded in this country than at any time before.

Petersham has also launched a 'sister shop' in Selfridges flagship Oxford Street store. The shop-within-a-shop opened on January 10, offering gardening accessories and tools, Murano glass vases and metal garden furniture.