During the UK's most recent lockdown, London-based chef Clare Smyth got an unexpected call telling her that she had just become the first British female chef to be awarded three Michelin stars.

Only three other British chefs - all male - had ever got the top rating from the Michelin Guide.

"They had asked me to get on the call later on that night, to be on the live stream, and I still didn 't know, right until almost the last moment," Smyth told AFP.

"I was hoping, obviously, but it was very unexpected. And it was something that was brilliant that it happened in such a difficult year - something worthwhile happened."

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Smyth received the news in January, and celebrated with a pizza and champagne, but unfortunately her restaurant Core, in London's Notting Hill area, was closed to indoor seating at the time because of COVID-19.

Five months on and she is now preparing to finally reopen the restaurant to indoor diners on Monday.

But there might be a bit of wait if you want to try it out - the restaurant which has fed celebrities such as ex-footballer David Beckham in the past, is fully booked until August.

Smyth, who catered Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wedding in 2018, also worked with Gordon Ramsay for 13 years.

But Smyth added that there were other female chefs in the UK with impressive resumes, and she predicted that more of them will soon be earning similar recognition.

"I think we will see many, many more top female chefs come through. I've got quite a few in my kitchen that I hope in the next five to ten years will be coming through and winning their own Michelin stars."

Video editor: Natalia Luz.