Hoole restaurant The Sticky Walnut has been named Restaurant of the Year in this year’s AA Hospitality Awards held at Grosvenor House Hotel in London last Monday, September 22.

The award citation described the restaurant, on Charles St in Hoole, as a ‘welcoming neighbourhood bistro’. It went on: ‘Head chef and owner Gary Usher has worked in many restaurants in the North of England and in London and he and his team now use top notch produce to put together imaginative dishes that do all of the ingredients proud.’

Gary said: “Knowing how prestigious the award is, we still can’t believe it. Our efforts have remained consistent over the last three and a half years and it is an honour to be recognised for them.”

The awards evening was hosted by BBC presenter and newsreader Fiona Bruce and the restaurant will now be included in the 2015 AA Restaurant Guide, which describes the eaterie as having a “shop-front exterior and rough-and-ready rustic vibe”.