The restaurant in Gisburn, which featured in this month's Valley magazine, was voted winner of the top spot in the category Taste Lancashire, at the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards ceremony, the Oscars of local industry, held at Ribby Hall, Preston.

The restaurant, owned by Maurizio and Cinzia Bocchi, will now represent Lancashire at the Taste of England North West finals and, if successful, will go for the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence.

Cinzia told our reporter "We are very proud and overjoyed at this achievement. This gives us more motivations to continue to work harder to improve all the time to give to our customers the best of the real Italian cuisine using the best from the local producers."

On presenting the award the judge said: "This winner perfectly demonstrates how a traditional ethnic restaurant using local produce and suppliers, can be a fine exponent of the Taste Lancashire philosophy. For example their ice cream is produced using only milk and cream from the Ribble Valley and 90% of their pastas are home-made.

"They are obviously as passionate about Lancashire produce as they are about Italian cuisine."

Another fine achievement was for partners Sara Collinge and Carl Barrow, (both 46), who were delighted to get to the finals of, but even more thrilled when they got a special mention during the Oscars-style event and were asked on stage to collect their Highly Commended certificate.

Coming second only to La Locanda their Carmen Rose Tearooms, in Ribchester, which opened less than two years ago, is a small traditional English tearoom in the heart of the Ribble Valley, and it has beaten off stiff competition to become one of the best restaurants in Lancashire.

"We were complete novices to the catering trade when we opened and we've had to learn fast. To win an award like this is an amazing feeling. It's a great pat on the back for us and for our brilliant staff and shows that we are doing lots right," said Sara.

The competition was searching for businesses that not just produced excellent food. Emphasis was on sourcing local produce, on hospitality, ambiance and customer service.

The Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Langho, was also celebrating as it scooped the prize for best small hotel of the year. The hotel is privately owned by the Hargreaves family, consisting of mother Lilian Hargreaves, daughters Barbara Bryan and Carole Maher and son David.

The hotel achieved a very high accreditation in all categories and received its award for the warm and friendly welcome by the staff as well as good regional food.

Mrs Hargreaves said: "We are absolutely elated and thrilled. Although we had been shortlisted it was still a lovely surprise when our name was called out at the luncheon. A lot of the credit goes to our staff who are very helpful to guests as well as polite and pleasant."

The self-catering award went to Clough Bottom Farm Cottages, Bashall Eaves.

The annual awards event celebrates the achievements of those who have excelled in their field and have made an outstanding contribution to Lancashire's visitor economy. The winners of these awards will progress to the Northwest regional finals, with the chance to go on to the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence.