Michelin stars are handed out to the best-of-the-best restaurants every year.

Some places will retain their 'star' some will get one for the first time and some will lose them.

2020's announcements - due in October - were shelved due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The new list was announced online last night.

It was thought that judges would be kind in light of the unprecedented struggle the hospitality industry has faced.

And indeed that turned out to be the case with only six operational restaurants losing a star.

Watch the awards here:

A further 16 places lost their award having been permanently closed.

This means that in the North West the likes of Northcote, the White Swan at Fence and Mana all retained their stars.

READ: 6 Michelin star restaurants in and around Blackburn

Michelin said it started work on the 2021 guide in August 2019.

This means many of the judges' inspections had been completed by the time restaurants were forced to close.

Here is a full list of the restaurants that lost out:

Ledbury, North Kensington, London (closed)

Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Port Isaac, Cornwall (closed) reopened as Outlaws New Road, awarded one star

Social Eating house, Soho, London

lyn Williams at the Westbury, Mayfair, London (closed)

The Square, Mayfair, London (closed)

Mayfair Greenhouse, Mayfair, London (closed)

Umu, Mayfair, London (demoted to one star)

Roganic, Regent's Park and Marylebone, London (closed)

Texture, Regent's Park and Marylebone (closed)Aquavit, St James's, London

Oxford Kitchen, Oxford (closed)

Matt Worswick at the Latymer, Bagshot (closed) – later reopened as Steve Smith at Latymer (one star)

Wilks, Bristol (closed)Flitch of Bacon, Little Dunmow, EssexBlack Rat, Winchester

Braidwoods, Dalry, Scotland (closed)

James Sommerin, Penarth, Wales (closed)

Mews, Baltimore, Northern Ireland (closed)

Pony & Trap, Chew Magna (closed)

Red Lion Freehouse, East Chisenbury