A MALVERN eaterie has won the coveted Restaurant of the Year Award, contested throughout the West Midlands.

Seasons Restaurant, at the Colwall Park Hotel, is already featured in the AA, Michelin and other good-food guides.

Iain Nesbitt, hotel proprietor, said he hoped that winning the award, sponsored by the Birmingham Post, would attract more "foodie" tourists to the area.

"It's superb recognition of our gourmet food and it is particularly pleasing to have won it in the first year we have entered the competition," he added.

The judges tested the restaurant's Sunday lunch and also the special Valentines Day dinner.

"They said both were outstanding," said Mr Nesbitt.

Head chef Martin Lovell was born in Birmingham but now lives in Worcester with his wife and two young children.

"I am proud our team did so well. It's a great reflection on the merits of the whole team," he said.