IN demand restaurant, The Cottage In The Wood, are on cloud nine after being named as one of the top 25 restaurants in the UK at the industry's most prestigious award night, the annual Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards, who positioned them as the 24th best restaurant in the country.

The restaurant, situated near Keswick, also won their first Michelin Star in 2019, making them one of the few food venues in Cumbria to be given the prestigious award.

A Michelin Star is awarded for outstanding cooking. They take into account the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavours, the mastery of techniques, and consistency across the menu.

Head chef, Ben Wilkinson, said: ‘“We are over the moon, being selected in the top 24 is more than we were anticipating.

"We are delighted to join the ranks of the UK’s top 100 restaurants, which is well-respected in the industry, and to be in such good company.

"It’s a real ‘who’s who’ of fantastic dining experiences in the UK.

"After a challenging period this is a much needed morale boost and reflects what we are aiming for as a team, delicious food enjoyed as part of a great eating out experience.”

The Cottage In The Wood also doubles as a glamourous hotel surrounded by forest views, with an impressive menu to match, with their most expensive wine coming in at a whopping £145.

With the dinner menu boasted dishes like scallops, oyster cream and Hogget Loin, with £95 expected to be taken from each table.

The restaurant commented: "The challenges of the pandemic mean it is vital to keep celebrating the culinary talent that the UK has to offer.

“There’s no denying that it’s tough for the hospitality industry right now, but it’s important to remind people what we have and look ahead to reopening our doors to customers when the time is right.

“Running a restaurant to such continually high standards takes passion, hard work and resilience from a dedicated team of people.

"Although the last 12 months have tested chefs and restaurateurs to the limit, there is a collective determination to keep striving for excellence – and fight for the future of our industry."