Michelin Star for Brighton as LGBTQ+ Hospitality Champion Rafael Cagali honoured

Brighton & Hove has secured its first Michelin star in almost half a century, marking a landmark moment for the city’s hospitality sector.

Chef Rafael Cagali has been awarded the prestigious accolade for his Hove restaurant Maré, becoming the first chef in the city to earn a Michelin star since Le Français in Paston Place, Kemp Town, closed in the 1970s.

The recognition places Brighton & Hove firmly back on the UK’s fine dining map after decades in which, despite a flourishing independent food scene, the city had been overlooked by the Michelin Guide.

Maré, located on Church Road in Hove, opened as Cagali’s latest venture alongside his partner Charlie Lee. The 38-cover restaurant champions seasonal Sussex produce and British suppliers, combining refined technique with a more accessible, convivial atmosphere. The menu bridges the gap between Cagali and Lee’s two-Michelin-starred Da Terra in London and its sister restaurant Elis, offering both an à la carte selection and a £75 chef’s tasting menu.

Translating to “tide” in Portuguese, Maré reflects Cagali’s Brazilian-Italian heritage and global culinary training, which has included time at The Fat Duck, Martin Berasategui and Quique Dacosta, before opening Da Terra in 2019 where he earned two Michelin stars.

Speaking previously about his career, Cagali told SquareMeal in 2023 that his sexuality had “never been an issue” in the kitchens he has worked in — a notable statement in an industry that has historically struggled with inclusion. He has also been named one of Checking-IN’s 10 LGBTQ+ Hospitality Champions, recognising leaders working to make the sector more welcoming and representative.

For Brighton’s LGBTQ+ community, long central to the city’s identity, the award carries symbolic as well as culinary weight. While the city has built a national reputation for its vibrant, independent restaurants, bars and cafés, it has not previously converted that creativity into Michelin recognition in recent decades.

Cagali said at the time of Maré’s opening that he was ambitious for the restaurant and wanted it to become “one of the most highly respected and beloved in the region”. With a Michelin star now secured, that ambition has quickly been realised.

Industry figures say the award could have a wider impact, attracting food tourism and strengthening Brighton & Hove’s case as a serious dining destination alongside its established cultural and LGBTQ+ credentials.

Maré is open Wednesday to Sunday on Church Road, Hove.