24-Year-Old Wins Brighton's First Michelin Star in 50 Years
Ewan Waller earned Brighton's first Michelin star in nearly 50 years for Maré, his Mediterranean seafood restaurant. The 24-year-old chef rose from Pret a Manger shifts to training under two-star chef Rafael Cagali. Maré is fully booked through mid-March after just six months of operation.
Maré, which translates to "tide" in Portuguese, opened its doors on Hove's Church Road in September 2025. The restaurant's name reflects its menu, which shifts with the seasons and showcases produce from local Sussex farms and fisheries. The interior is designed with a warm, modern aesthetic to create a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The last restaurant in Brighton and Hove to hold a Michelin star was Le Francais in Paston Place, which closed in the 1970s. For decades, Brighton was often noted as one of the largest UK cities without a Michelin-starred establishment, making Maré's achievement a landmark moment for the city's food scene. The award was announced at the 2026 Michelin Guide ceremony in Dublin. The menu at Maré is a la carte, offering a range of small bites, hot and cold plates, and larger sharing dishes. This approach is intended to be more accessible than a formal tasting menu, encouraging a convivial dining experience. The cuisine blends chef Rafael Cagali's Brazilian and Italian heritage with global influences from Mexico and Japan. Chef-Patron Rafael Cagali also holds two Michelin stars for his London restaurant, Da Terra, located in Bethnal Green's former Town Hall Hotel. His partner, Charlie Lee, who also trained at The Fat Duck, manages the front-of-house at Maré. Cagali's culinary background includes time at other highly acclaimed restaurants such as The Fat Duck and Fera at Claridge's.
