Award winners celebrate eating out in the Scottish Borders
Twenty six accolades were presented to Borders food and drink businesses at the prestigious Scottish Borders Eating Out Awards. The Awards represent the very best of Eating Out in the Scottish Borders as local businesses had their food, service and menus judged by incognito professional restaurant inspectors over recent weeks, who found that standards in the Borders have risen again.
Launched in July, there was a tremendous response to the competition from local people and visitors to the area, with over 400 nominations received – more than double previous years. In total, 92 businesses were nominated, from Peebles to Eyemouth – almost twice the number nominated in previous years. Voters praised a range of qualities about the best eating out places but most cited the excellent food, friendly service and warm welcome.
VisitScotland Borders sponsored the best customer service category of the awards which were again funded and managed by Scottish Borders Council, as part of their support for both the food and tourism industries. Other sponsors of individual classes were NHS Borders, Scottish Enterprise Borders, Borders College, NFU Scotland, EatScotland and the Southern Reporter.
The Horseshoe Inn at Eddleston scooped the overall winner’s prize as well as winning the Best Customer Service Award category. Other winners included Marmions Brasserie, Melrose; Glentress Hotel, Peebles; Lazels@Peebles Hydro Hotel; Cobbles Inn, Kelso; the Caddy Mann, Jedburgh; the Wheatsheaf at Swinton; Allerton House, Jedburgh and Le Jardin, Kelso with the Best Local Supplier award going to D R Collin Seafresh of Eyemouth.
New awards this year were for a Junior Chef, which was decided in a ‘cook-off’, and a competition for the best-written restaurant review from a member of the public, judged by the editor of the Southern Reporter, with the review to be featured in the paper. The certificates and prizes were presented by the sponsors and national food critic, Mark Palmer, who was born and bred in the Borders and regularly returns to his home town of Duns.
The judges' report emphasised the continuing increase in quality eating out places, of all styles across the region and particularly praised attentive, professional service and friendly staff.
For further information contact: Marion Oates, Scottish Borders Council Tel: 01835 824000. Email moates@scotborders.gov.uk
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