A popular Kent restaurant, owned by celebrity chef Richard Phillips, has lost its Michelin Star.

Thackeray's, in London Road, Tunbridge Wells, no longer features in the exclusive Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland, which was unveiled this morning.

The upmarket restaurant, which serves French cuisine, first received one Michelin Star in 2003 and kept it for two years.

Then in 2013 it got the star back again, losing it in the list revealed today.

A spokesman for the restaurant said: "“Our team at Thackerays has worked tirelessly over the past 15 years to ensure the highest standards are achieved and our customer experience is second to none.

"We are very proud of the great reputation our restaurant has and we will continue to ensure our customers come first.”

Kent's other two Michelin-Starred restaurants, The West House in Biddenden and The Sportsman in Seasalter, near Whitstable, retained their stars.

Mr Phillips, who has appeared on Ready, Steady Cook and is a regular chef on ITV's Lorraine, also owns The Windmill in Hollingbourne and the Pearson's Arms in Whitstable.

He grew up in Gillingham and went to The Howard School in Rainham.