A Sicilian restaurant in Carlisle has won a top national award.

Staff at Amato’s on Abbey Street are celebrating after winning Best Newcomer at The Italian Awards.

The awards were held at the Palace hotel in Manchester on Sunday night.

Sotto restaurant on Warwick Road was also nominated in the Best Newcomer category and Casa Romana in the Best Pasta category.

Filippo Amato, who runs the restaurant with his sister Rosa, said: “It was brilliant - amazing and I can’t believe we won.

“I thought we’d been invited just to make up the numbers but to win was fantastic.

“It was great to go down there with the guys from Sotto and Dick from Casa Romana. I used to work at Casa Romana so it was nice that they were there too.

Filippo opened Amato’s last year. He and his siblings are second-generation Sicilians, born and brought up in Carlisle, and after working as a chef in France and Spain he returned to his home city to open a restaurant of his own.

He said: “We thought that it was just a competition for the north but it covers the whole country from Scotland down to Portsmouth.

“The last year has been great for us. We have been very busy.”

The Best Pasta category was judged two weeks before the awards by celebrity chef Aldo Zilli at a cookery school in Cheshire.

The team from Casa Romana made Cumbrian lamb, aubergine and garganelli pasta.

A spokesman for Casa Romana said: “Thanks to all who got us into the final of the Best Pasta category at the Italian Awards but sadly wasn't to be.

“Had a fabulous night with Yusuf and Mike representing Casa.

“Fantastic for our friend and former trainee chef Filly Amato to get best newcomer. So pleased for him and all his family.”