The Balmoral hotel in Edinburgh and Pastarazzi Ristorante, Chester, were both winners at this year’s inaugural Business Excellence Awards.

The awards, which seek to recognise outstanding business achievement and were held earlier this month, were launched by the industry’s Best Practice Forum in conjunction with media partners including Caterer and Hotelkeeper.

The Balmoral won the hotels category of businesses with a turnover of more than £1m while Pastarazzi Ristorante won the restaurants category of businesses with a turnover of under £1m. Both were the overall winners of their sectors.

Each business wins a one-week scholarship overseas to study business practice on the continent.

Debbie Taylor, general manager at the Balmoral and Steven Wundke, proprietor of Pastarzzi Ristorante were presented with their trophies at a gala awards ceremony at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

Taylor said: I am delighted to receive two Business Excellence Awards on behalf of the Balmoral. However this is a tribute to my team.

Other winners included: Jarvis hotels for the Group Hotels award; Whitehall Hotel, Darwen for hotels with a turnover of under £1m and Digby Trout Restaurants for Restaurants Group winner.

Hotels highly commended were: Maybourne Hotel Group, Malmaison Group, Cottage in the Wood, Malvern, and the Dorchester, London.

To view all winners and finalists log on here.

By Jessica Gunn

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