A BRIDGWATER restaurant has earned a prestigious award having curried favour with expert judges.

Eastover's Spice Club was named the South-West runner-up in the Restaurant of the Year category at the Master Chef Promotions awards.

The results were announced at a gala dinner attended by more than 1,000 guests in West Bromwich on Sunday, February 5.

Karim Miah, manager at the Spice Club, said: "This was the first time we had participated in the event.

"On January 10, our chef Mohamed Awal Miah competed in a cook off at Bourneville College in Birmingham and had 45 minutes to produce a starter, main, rice and side dish using only raw ingredients."

The judges were clearly impressed as Karim and Mohamed were invited to the prize ceremony.

"When we were named as runner-up in the South West we were shocked and delighted.

"This is only possible because of our amazing customers who have supported us since day one - without them we would not be where we are."

The awards were founded by TV chef Rois Ali and were presented by comedian and Youtube personality Ali Official.

The awards raise the profile of the food and drink industry and inspire a new generation of young chefs to work in kitchens up and down the country.

Nawaz Ali, executive director of Coventry-based Master Chef Promotions, said: “We want to encourage chefs to use the ‘Train to Gain’ scheme to equip them with essential skills in the kitchen. 

“We want to help unemployed people get back into the world of work and we want to celebrate the stars of our trade, making them role models for others to look up to.”