WEST Somerset food providers have gained a host of places in the recently announced Somerset Life Food and Drink Awards – with two of them overall winners of their categories.

Reeves Restaurant, in Dunster, came top in the customer service award section, while Periwinkle Cottage Tea Rooms in Selworthy won the tea/coffee shop of the year category.

Reeves co-owner Justin Reeves was also a finalist for chef of the year, as was John Bradley from The Coleridge Restaurant at the Dunkery Beacon Country Hotel, Wootton Courtenay,.

Other local finalists in the awards, held last Thursday at Haselbury Mill near Crewkerne, were the Porlock Weir Hotel (newcomer of the year) and Duende in Wiveliscombe (restaurant of the year).

There’s more detail on this - as well as on the finalists in this year’s Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards - in todays Free Press.

Justin Reeves is one of the chefs who contributes to our Exmoor Recipe column. You’ll find the recipe for his apple and sultana brioche pudding in Page today’s column.