A BEAMINSTER restaurant is celebrating after being named as the only Dorset business to feature in a national newspaper's list of the best eateries in the UK.

Brassica Restaurant, on The Square, is featured on this year's Sunday Times' Top 100 Restaurants.

Louise Chidgey, director of Brassica, said: "There's lots of great places in Dorset so we are hugely overwhelmed to be the only one on the list.

"Although we are possibly not that radical of a place, they perhaps thought that we offered something different for the area.

"We are really pleased for the staff and for this part of the world, which has so much to offer in terms of food and drink."

She added: "Hopefully it will give us some good exposure.

"It's the sort of list that people will keep and think about when they come on holiday to Dorset, so we are just delighted."

Ms Chidgey is pleased that the hard work of the Brassica staff has been recognised.

She added: "This industry is hard work, especially at this time of year.

"Although we are only open four days a week, we pretty much work double shifts those days."

Alongside the list of Britain's best places to eat, the list features interviews with chefs, a look at the latest dining out trends and 'cook it yourself' recipes.

Editor of The Sunday Times Top 100 Restaurants, Laurel Ives, said: “The Sunday Times Top 100 Restaurants judging panel is made up of some of the most experienced and knowledgeable people in the industry, from chefs and owners, to our own expert writers. "They have picked out the very best establishments that the UK’s impressive culinary scene has to offer.”

The Brassica team is taking on a new venture this summer, when the staff will run the Sawmill Café at Mapperton House from April.

Ms Chidgey said: "This summer, we are taking it on as it currently is.

"Next year, there is talk of making it much bigger with some exciting things."

She added: "When we came down here about three years ago, we didn't have a site.

"We were initially looking at an old barn and even a former chapel. We found the two places for a restaurant and a shop next door to each other and we have a great location in The Square with a lot of footfall. It was always in our mind that we wanted to create something beautiful and we are really excited."