A ‘COMMITMENT to local sourcing’ has earned a Lyme Regis hotel praise for the fourth year in a row.

The Alexandra in Lyme Regis has been praised for its ‘extensive range of local produce’ and ‘faultless cooking’ in this year’s prestigious Taste of the West awards.

The critically-acclaimed hotel and restaurant was awarded Gold by judges in the Taste of the West Hospitality & Retail Award Winners 2014.

Kathryn Haskins, owner of the hotel, pictured inset below, said she was ‘thrilled’ with the result.

“We are really pleased to be recognised for the hard work that the chefs and team put in every day to make The Alexandra in Lyme Regis a special experience.

“Continual improvement is hard work, but to us, it’s worth it,” she said.

The Alexandra has views over private gardens, the famous Cobb harbour wall and looks out across the UNESCO world heritage site at Lyme Bay.

In the last four years it has been named winner of Condé Nast Johansens ‘Most Excellent Waterside Hotel’ award, a finalist in the Condé Nast Johansens ‘Innovation in Sustainable Hospitality‘ award, nominated for Coast magazine’s ‘Best Shoreline Hotel‘ award, member of Britain’s Finest and Best Loved Hotels and runner-up in the Sunday Times' Ultimate 100 Seaside Hotels.

The Alexandra was built in 1735 for the Dowager Countess Poulett and was later the home of the Duc du Stackpoole. It became a hotel in 1901 and has been owned and managed by the Haskins family for more than 30 years.

Judges’ feedback for the Taste awards added: “This feels like a business that’s alive. Every time we go it has improved.

“It has managed to create its own style without being over the top and vulnerable to changing fashions.”

The hotel serves a beer from Lyme Regis brewery, Luscombe’s juices and five regional cheeses.

The local food which caught the judge’s eye include Lyme scallops, Brixham brill, Devon Ruby beef, Lyme sole, Devon pork, Dorset lamb and more than ten local ice creams and sorbets.

The judges added: ‘Their commitment to local sourcing really comes through, from the promoted beers in the bar, to the whole menu and we liked the connection to the local area, with Lyme and Jurassic Coast links – nicely done.’ Judges also stated that the ‘cooking was faultless’.

Kathryn added: “We worry about the little things. It’s this microscopic attention to detail that we hope really make this difference to customers. “It’s at times like this that the team’s hard work and effort really makes it all worthwhile.”

To contact the hotel call 01297 442010, or visit hotelalexandra.co.uk