The owners of a 16-cover restaurant near Hull have spoken of their surprise after being nominated for a top restaurant award.
Richard and Lindsey Johns` Artisan Restaurant in Hessle, East Yorkshire is one of 40 restaurants to be shortlisted for the Top 10 Restaurants Outside London award in the London Restaurant Awards 2008.
The couple - a self-taught chef and an ex-police officer – said they were "stunned" when they found out their restaurant was going head-to-head with the likes of Heston Blumenthal`s Fat Duck restaurant and Raymond Blanc`s Le Manoir aux Quat` Saisons.
“This is the biggest thing for us - we really are up against the best in the country,” said Lindsey “We didn’t apply for the award, so it’s come as a total surprise.”
Artisan is staffed solely by Richard, who runs the kitchen and Lindsey, who runs front of house. The restaurant offers diners two choices for starters, main courses and puddings, with a six-course “tasting menu” running alongside.
Although they are pleased to have been nominated, the couple say a win would not prompt them to expand their small restaurant.
"We made the decision to have a standard driven restaurant and it seems that our customers really appreciate it,” said Lindsey.
The London Restaurant Awards nominees were announced last week, but they will have to wait until September 1 to find out if they have won.
A judging panel of some of the UK`s most respected and well-known critics, including Tracey Macleod of The Independent on Sunday and Giles Coren of The Times will decide on the winners of 13 of the 18 categories.
London Restaurant Awards reveals shortlist
To find out more information on The London Restaurant Awards, or to download a booking form, see out events listing here.