BOURNEMOUTH’S Arbor Restaurant at the Green House hotel and Highcliff Grill at the Marriott shared a joint silver award in the Eating Out category at last week’s inaugural Dorset Tourism Awards.

Chefs Andy Hilton and Matt Budden were edged out by the Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne, where head chef Brett Sutton oversees a double AA Rosette restaurant. Olivia O’Sullivan, Green House hotel manager, said: “Arbor has great synergy with the Highcliff Grill, as we are both burning the sustainability torch as far as food is concerned.”

Chef Hilton said he was very proud to have been nominated. “The future is looking very rosy for Bournemouth,” he tweeted.

The Eating Out award was sponsored by Darren Northeast PR and presented at a ceremony held last Thursday at The Tank Museum, Bovington.

A total of 39 awards were presented in 12 categories honouring Dorset’s leisure, travel and tourism industries. Professor Peter Jones, chairman of the award’s panel, said: “The quality of our tourism businesses is testament to the excellence of which we should be proud.”