The award was presented to Ronnies by top chef Heston Blumenthal OBE, at a ceremony held at the British Museum yesterday (9 June). Ronnies, a modern British restaurant, won the award after being named The Good Food Guide readers' favourite restaurant in the South West. More than 23,000 people voted for their top local independent restaurant to produce a shortlist of ten regional winners. Elizabeth Carter, Editor of The Good Food Guide, said: "Independently owned and run restaurants such as Ronnies are the very antidote of the chain restaurants that dominate our high streets. I'm delighted that Ronnies has won The Good Food Guide's Restaurant of the Year award, as it's a glowing endorsement of Ron Faulkner's skill as a chef and restaurateur. "His fiercely loyal following is testament to a strong commitment to fresh, local produce, modern food and a genuinely welcoming service." Ron Faulkner, owner of Ronnies, is over the moon with the result: "We're absolutely delighted! We've had such positive feedback from the general public and it's phenomenal to win this award." The award was one of ten presented at the annual Which? Awards, held by consumer organisation Which? to celebrate the best products and services in the UK. The ceremony was hosted by news presenter Natasha Kaplinsky, and inventor Trevor Baylis OBE also took part in the event. Ronnies beat the remaining nine finalists which included L'Etranger in South Kensington, London, Entropy in Leicester, and the Yorke Arms in Ramsgill.