A WEST DORSET pub has been lauded with two gold awards at the Taste of the West Awards 2017.

The Anchor Inn in Seatown, near Bridport received gold in the Dining Pub and Bed and Breakfast categories.

Judges said they were impressed with the “really very well run restaurant serving a small but very well designed and very well executed menu based on locally sourced ingredients.”

They added that “this is a lovely B&B in a great location. Breakfast was delicious.”

One of the managers, David Smith, said the team were really pleased. He said: “We’re over the moon. We have put in a lot of hard work for it but we didn’t expect to win anything.

“We entered it to get some good feedback and we ended up winning which is really good.”

Other local winners include the Alexandra Hotel and Restaurant in Lyme Regis, which won gold in the Restaurant category.

Subtropical Gardens Colonial Restaurant, near Weymouth, won a silver award in the restaurant category, Taste Restaurant Ltd, Dorchester, won the gold award for casual dining, as did Weymouth’s Dorset Burger Company and Downhouse Farm in Bridport won gold in the café and tearoom section.

In total, the judges gave out 675 Gold, Silver and Highly Commended Awards. The awards have grown and grown over the past 20 years. This year more than a thousand products were tried and tested by a panel of more than 80 expert independent judges.

John Sheaves, Chief Executive of Taste of the West, said: “This year we are particularly pleased that the level of innovation in product development has been higher than usual.

“Through our experience of running the UK’s largest regional food and drink awards programme, we are seeking to raise the bar in terms of excellence.

“In this way, we know that we can offer a product to a discerning consumer market which has been thoroughly tested and evaluated.”

This year’s awards are sponsored by Old Mill Accountants and Financial Planners. Phil Mills, from the company said: “Once again the outstanding quality of the produce delivered day in day out by the award winners cements our belief that the West Country is at the pinnacle of the UK food and drink industry. We are delighted to have formed a partnership with Taste of the West through which we can further support the sector.”

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