Shopping precinct restaurant wins Good Food Guide award
09 June 2009
A restaurant located in a shopping precinct, Ronnies in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, has beaten off strong competition to be named The Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year.
The award was presented to Ronnies by top chef Heston Blumenthal OBE, at a ceremony held at the British Museum today.
Despite its everyday location, Ronnies, a modern British restaurant, won the award after being named The Good Food Guide readers’ favourite restaurant in the South West. More than 23,000 people voted for their top local independent restaurant to produce a shortlist of ten regional winners*.
Elizabeth Carter, Editor of The Good Food Guide, says:
“Independently owned and run restaurants such as Ronnies are the very antidote of the chain restaurants that dominate our high streets. I'm delighted that Ronnies has won The Good Food Guide's Restaurant of the Year award, as it’s a glowing endorsement of Ron Faulkner's skill as a chef and restaurateur. His fiercely loyal following is testament to a strong commitment to fresh, local produce, modern food and a genuinely welcoming service.”
Ron Faulkner, owner of Ronnies, says:
"We're absolutely delighted! We've had such positive feedback from the general public and it’s phenomenal to win this award.”
The award was one of ten presented today at the annual Which? Awards, held by consumer organisation Which? to celebrate the best products and services in the UK. The ceremony was hosted by news presenter Natasha Kaplinsky, and inventor Trevor Baylis OBE also took part in the event.
- Ends –
Notes to Editor
For further information, an interview with a Good Food Guide spokesperson, or a photograph of the winner or regional winners receiving their awards, please contact Sarah Gartside or Miranda Akhurst. Ronnies can be contacted on 01454 411137. To find out more about the Which? Awards log on to: www.which.co.uk/awards
* The Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year
Ten regional winners shortlisted for the award were:
> Wales: Tyddyn Llan, Llandrillo
> East England: Maison Bleue, Bury St Edmunds
> London: L'Etranger, South Kensington
> Midlands: Entropy, Leicester
> Northern Ireland: Mourne Seafood, Belfast
> North East: Yorke Arms, Ramsgill
> North West: Nutters, Norden
> Scotland: Ubiquitous Chip, Glasgow
> South East: Mulberry Tree, Boughton Monchelsea
> South West: Ronnies, Thornbury
The Which? Awards 2009 – winners
> Best Audio Visual Brand: Canon
> Best Domestic Appliance Brand: Bosch
> Best Carmaker: BMW
> Best Financial Services Provider: Co-operative Bank
> Best High Street Retailer: John Lewis
> Which? Innovation Award: BBC iplayer
> Best Online Retailer: play.com
> Best Supermarket: Aldi
> The Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year: Ronnies, Thornbury
> Which? Local Business of the Year: Joseph Morris Butchers, Leicestershire