The British restaurant scene performed rather badly in the 2006 World’s 50 Best Restaurant awards held at the London Science Museum on 10 April.

The annual awards – organised by Restaurant magazine – are judged by 560 food critics.

Since 2005, the number of British eateries in the top 50 has more than halved from 14 to six.

The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, last year’s number one, was knocked into second place by El Bulli on the Costa Brava in Spain owing to its experimental dishes.

Ironically, El Bulli came second in the 2005 awards.

Britain’s next highest entry was Japanese restaurant Nobu in London, which moved up eight places from 2005 to 12th place.

Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant in Chelsea earned 14th place – down nine places. London’s Le Gavroche came 27th. Details: www.restaurantmagazine.co.uk