A KENDAL hotel has bagged the title of best restaurant of the year at an awards ceremony - beating stiff local and national competition.

The Castle Green Hotel was named northern winner and overall Hotel Restaurant of the Year at the inaugural Food Awards England and Wales.

The hotel received the accolade at a glitzy bash at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel on Monday (November 17) after months of public nominations. The bar and hotel lounge will be undergoing a £250,000 refurbishment in January 2015.