The best places to eat in Brighton and Hove revealed at awards

Brighton’s Best Restaurant Awards, organised by local food experts, named the top 20 places to eat in Brighton and Hove.

And this year The Little Fish Market took the top spot.

Chef Duncan Ray, who set up the Hove seafood restaurant in 2013, was also named Best Chef at the annual awards.

He said: “It was quite surreal hearing hundred of people cheering so loudly when we won.

“These awards are really special because they are voted for by my peers. To win both Best Chef and Best Restaurant means so much.”

The awards were held at Komedia, with the top prize presented by Simon Rogan, chef-patron of the two-Michelin-starred L’Enclume in Cumbria.

Mr Rogan, who used to live in Sussex, revealed he almost opened a restaurant in the city in 2001 before he went on to set up L’Enclume.

“I’ve always loved Brighton and really enjoy coming back. It’s great to see so many amazing restaurants here,” he said.

The city’s top 20 restaurants are decided by votes from almost 200 local experts including food writers, chefs, restaurateurs and business leaders.

This year, Petit Pois, Murmur, 1909 and Pike & Pine all made it on to the list for the first time, as did critically-acclaimed Pascere, which also won the Best Wine List award.

Hove fine-dining destination Etch, from Masterchef winner Steven Edwards, took the Highest New Entry award finishing seventh on the Top 20 list.

And established restaurants also did well with Bincho Yakitori, the popular Japanese grill, holding onto second place, while last year’s number one 64 Degrees took third place.

Hove gastropub The Ginger Pig won the Rising Star award, and the pub’s sister restaurant Gingerman also made the list 20 years after it was first opened by Ben and Pamela McKellar. The couple’s influence and achievements in the city’s restaurant industry were recognised with an Outstanding Contribution Award, presented by Simon Rogan.

“We really weren’t expecting that at all,” said a visibly moved Ben McKellar. “We love what we do, but to be recognised by a room full of fellow chefs like this is really very special. The Brighton restaurant scene has changed a lot since we first started. Competition is strong, but that’s good for everyone - a rising tide raises all boats. Brighton is now a seriously good dining destination and more people are visiting just for the food.”

Other award winners on the night included Jake Goldstein, bar manager at the Plotting Parlour, who won Best Barkeep; and Cin Cin owner David Toscano, who scooped the Best Welcome award for the second year in a row.

The Best Sunday Lunch category was won by the Dizzy Gull at the Brighton Beer Dispensary pub, while The Chilli Pickle’s fragrant Keralan platter, Al and D’s Toddy Shop, created for the OctoberBest restaurant festival, was named Best OctoberBest Dish.

The Top 20, in order, are as follows:

1) The Little Fish Market

2) Bincho Yakitori

3) 64 Degrees

4) Cin Cin

5) The Set

6) The Chilli Pickle

7) Etch

8) Pascere

9) The Salt Room

10) The Ginger Pig

11) Silo

12) Isaac At

13) Plateau

14) Red Roaster/Pike & Pine

15) Fatto a Mano

16) 1909

17) Fourth & Church

18) Murmur

19) Petit Pois

20) The Gingerman

Category winners:

Outstanding Contribution: Ben and Pamela McKellar, Ginger Restaurants

Best Chef, sponsored by BNFS: Duncan Ray, The Little Fish Market

Best Barkeep, sponsored by Ridgeview: Jake Goldstein, Plotting Parlour

Best Welcome, sponsored by DesignLSM: David Toscano, Cin Cin

Best Wine List, sponsored by The Brighton Wine Co: Pascere

Best Sunday Lunch, sponsored by The Lifestyle Agency: Dizzy Gull at the Brighton Beer Dispensary

Rising Star, sponsored by Enotria&Coe: The Ginger Pig

Highest New Entry, sponsored by Bibendum: Etch

Best OctoberBEST Dish, sponsored by We Are Spectacular: Al and D’s Toddy Shop, The Chilli Pickle

To find out more about the awards, visit: www.brightonsbestrestaurants.com