THREE of Cumbria's best-known restaurants have made it into the UK's top 100 dining spots.

Simon Rogan's world-famous L'Enclume, in Cartmel, was placed sixth in the National Restaurant Awards.

Meanwhile, Forest Side Hotel at Grasmere came 18th, and Windermere's Holbeck Ghyll took 98th place.

The list of the country's best restaurants is voted for by 200 "industry experts" including chefs, restaurateurs, critics and food writers. Each nominates the top seven places they have dined at in the past year, in order of preference.

The Michelin-starred restaurant at Forest Side, whose head chef Kevin Tickle has a passion for foraging, has made its first appearance in the listings.

This year also marks the top 100 debut for Lake District country house hotel Holbeck Ghyll, whose restaurant has three AA rosettes under head chef William Dimartino.

General manager Elia Shreiber said: "The team at Holbeck Ghyll are over the moon to feature alongside the UK’s top restaurants, including Moor Hall [Aughton, Lancashire], Raby Hunt [Darlington], Mana [Manchester] and Roganic [London].

"Being listed at number 98 is huge for us, especially as it massively recognises the efforts of everyone at Holbeck Ghyll. We are immensely dedicated, and this is a huge pat on the back for what we are striving to achieve."

Mark Birchall, the chef-patron at number one restaurant Moor Hall, at Aughton, was previously executive chef at L'Enclume.

Simon Rogan's sister restaurant Roganic, in Marylebone, London, was placed 22nd in the National Restaurant Awards, which are sponsored by Spanish beer Estrella Damm and run by Restaurant magazine.

For more, see www.nationalrestaurantawards.co.uk