A word from the Sponsors

As organisers of the Hotel & Catering Show, Bournemouth, which recently celebrated 50 years of supplying the South of England's hospitality sector with products and services, we are honoured to sponsor the first ever ‘Dorset Restaurant of the Year’ award.

Hospitality is the number one industry for this region, and has contributed not only to Dorset economy, but to UK economy generally. Hospitality employs more people than the Public Sector, Education, Healthcare, Finance, I.T. and Manufacturing.

The Hotel & Catering Show currently hosts the UK’s 2nd largest Salon Culinaire and is committed to raising the profile of Dorset’s hospitality, including its restaurants – whether in pubs, hotels or stand alone establishments.

Many locally trained Chefs have worked in top training posts, including The Savoy, The Dorchester, and even Buckingham Palace. We need to make sure that this area becomes somewhere that those Chefs want to return, to start their own business or improve existing businesses.

We are looking forward to receiving some exciting and varied applications and encourage everyone to nominate their favourite haunts.

Apply now and maybe you can win the very first of what will hopefully be many prestigious Dorset Restaurant of the Year Awards.

Award Description

Restaurants must demonstrate outstanding success in their market sector and combine high culinary and service standards with commercial success. They must be setting standards which are inspiring to the rest of Dorset’s hospitality industry.

The Dorset Restaurant of the Year Award will be awarded to the establishment that can exhibit the best all round performance.

Entry Criteria/Eligibility

The Dorset Restaurant of the Year Award is open to Restaurants of any size in Dorset – whether in pubs, hotels or stand alone establishments. Restaurants may wish to nominate themselves or a supplier or customer may like to nominate their favourite Restaurant.

All third party nominations must be made with the full knowledge and co-operation of the Nominated Restaurant

Judging will be based on the following criteria:

• Food and Wine

• Service

• Value for money

• Use of local produce

• Location and Environment

• The whole dining experience

All short listed establishments will be subject to a “Mystery Diner” after the closing date. The Mystery Diner will be chosen from a panel of judges with previous award judging experience and will be located across the region.

Application Process

You can nominate yourself or your favourite Restaurant for the Dorset Restaurant of the Year Award online or by post.

Online - complete the Entry Form (see right).

By Post - request an Entry Form by contacting Charlotte Hockey on 01425 485041 and then complete and send the completed Entry Form to:

Charlotte Hockey
Optimus Events Ltd (part of The CEM Group)
1 Doughty Building
Crow Arch Lane
Ringwood
BH24 1NZ

Timescale / Deadlines

Deadline for completed Application Forms to be received by 31st August 2006.

During July and August all entries will be sent a standard Application Form, that must be completed and be accompanied by sample menus and wine list.

Judging will take place in September and October 2006.

A maximum of 6 restaurants will be short-listed and visited incognito by a judge from a regional panel of judges – entrants will be informed of whether they have been successful.

On 31st October 2006 a final short-list of three will be chosen and will be invited to attend the Doret Business Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 6th December 2006 at the Pavilion, Bournemouth

In mid November the panel of judges will select their winner and the prize will be awarded at the Dorset Business Awards Ceremony.

Sponsored by the Hotel and Catering Show 2006

Charlotte Hockey
Optimus Events Ltd (part of the CEM Group)
1 Doughty Building
Crow Arch Lane
Ringwood
BH24 1NZ

Tel: 01425 485041
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hotel-expo.co.uk