Italian fine dining restaurant Figurati! has been named the best restaurant in Southampton following a bumper first year in business.
Staff from the popular Ocean Village eatery scooped the coveted accolade at the British Restaurant Awards.
The industry's top restaurateurs, executive chefs and food connoiseurs gathered for a glittering ceremony in London.
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Founded by Chris Schutrups and Richard Gilbert along with their wives Nicola and Sophie last July, the restaurant was honoured by the country's top culinary award-giving body for their outstanding contribution to UK hospitality.
They were in good company with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who boasts 17 Michelin stars, being awarded the Best Chef trophy and highly regarded Argentinian steak chain Gaucho also among the winners. 8 by Andrew Sheridan in Liverpool was named Restaurant of the Year 2023.
Figurati!, or "no worries" in Italian, has gained a loyal following because of its fusion of traditional and modern flavours complemented by first-rate customer service.
The business is one of the highest rated restaurants in Southampton on TripAdvisor.
Chris Schutrups told the Daily Echo: "We're incredibly proud of such an accolade so early on in our journey. Figurati! was only opened a year ago but we've been recognised along with other restaurants that have been in the scene for quite some time now.
"We've been overwhelmed by the support of the local community and our loyal customers, we couldn’t have done it without them."
Other nominees in the category included Shanghai 1814, Blue Jasmine, The Jetty Southampton, and The Oxford Brasserie, among others.
"We've got an incredible head chef, Nick O'Halloran, and general manager, Ross Saunders, who, together with their amazing team, offer absolutely fabulous customer and dining experience. This award inspires us to strive to be our best everyday," Chris added.
The British Restaurant Awards, now in its fifth year, is considered the most prestigious culinary event in the UK. Winners and nominees are determined by public vote.
Television presenter Cait King hosted the event, at Portchester Hall, joined by champion sprinter Dwain Chambers and reality star Paris Smith.
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