Lostwithiel eatery takes Cornish Restaurant of the Year award

At the recent Cornwall Tourism Awards, the Trewithen Restaurant in Lostwithiel was named the Restaurant of the Year. The husband and wife team of Paul and Claire Murray opened the restaurant in 2006, and were able to claim the prize in a heavily contested competition.

"We are absolutely overwhelmed and delighted to win gold against such amazing restaurants,” said Claire Murray after the win. “We can't believe how many people have stopped to congratulate us and sent cards and flowers to say how well deserved the award is."

The restaurant has developed a strong following amongst locals. The couple’s establishment was praised for creating an amazing culinary experience whilst still remaining friendly and approachable. In awarding the Trewithen, the judges described the restaurant as, "A genuinely well run friendly restaurant serving great food, well balanced meals at a fair price and a positive ambassador for Lostwithiel."

Following the Trewithen Restaurant were The Dining Room in Rock and Michelin-rated Paul Ainsworth at Number 6 in Padstow. In the pub category, The Ship Inn in Wadebridge took top honours, followed by The Rising Sun in Truro and The Pandora Inn in Falmouth.

Cornwall has a tremendous reputation for culinary and hospitality excellence. With the trailblazing work of Rick Stein in Padstow and his awarding-winning locale, The Seafood Restaurant, Cornish fine dining also boasts Michelin-rated Nathan Outlaw, who operates a restaurant in Port Isaac.

Trewithen will now go on to represent Cornwall at the South West Tourism Awards, the winners of which will be announced at a ceremony in Exeter Cathedral in February.

For visitors staying at holiday cottages in St Ives, restaurants and pubs are not the only things to look forward to when visiting Cornwall. In terms of local attractions, the Eden Project, Newquay Activity Centre and the Screech Owl Sanctuary in St Columb all took gold in their categories. For a complete list of winners, please visit the Tourism Awards website.