Five restaurants in west Dorset have been singled out for praise – with one being held up as among the best in the country.

Brassica in Beaminster is top in the south west in the reader-nominated Best Local Restaurant awards, a scheme run by the Good Food Guide by Waitrose & Partners to recognise the best neighbourhood eateries up and down the country.

Meanwhile, The Ollerod, also in Beaminster, The Hive Beach Cafe and Seaside Boarding House, both in Burton Bradstock, and The Club House in West Bexingotn are among the entries to this year's Guide, which is published on Thursday.

The Good Food Guide says of Brassica: “Former Londoners Cass Titcombe and Louise Chidgey set out to create a place that would encompass the concept of ‘hygge’– an idea they loosely translate as being with friends and family while eating and drinking – and they’ve certainly done that here.

“Their market town restaurant in west Dorset sits at the heart of the community, championing local producers and putting on regular events such as paella suppers and food & film nights.”

In March, the Guide, published by the supermarket, called for diners to nominate their favourite local eatery. The coveted awards, now in their 13th year, honour the very best independent restaurants, pubs and cafés from around the UK across six regions.

Elizabeth Carter, Waitrose & Partners Good Food Guide Editor, says “Our Best Local Restaurants are shining examples of where our readers have received a warm welcome, witnessed a commitment to local produce and are going above and beyond to serve their community."

This year, more than 12,000 members of the public submitted nominations for their favourite restaurants. From these, a panel of Good Food Guide experts compiled a shortlist of places for the Guide’s editors to make the final decision, selecting the most outstanding from each region.