A WEST Devon restaurant and hotel has just been awarded yet another coveted accolade to add to its ever-growing string of top class awards.

Percy's Country Hotel and Restaurant at Virginstow has become the first in Devon to be awarded Four Dining Awards by the RAC.

The award means Tina Bricknell-Webb has now become the RAC's most accoladed chef in the county.

Tina's preparation of contemporary country cuisine drew great praise from the RAC inspector, who stayed at Percy's 'incognito'.

The inspector found the dishes were cooked to perfection, using organically produced, local ingredients.

In his overall impression of Percy's, the inspector said: 'Quite a unique product that reflects the owners' passion for quality, fresh cooking and food and very personal, hospitable hotel keeping at its best.

'Without question a delightful, different hotel with some of the most honest, quality cooking in the UK.'

His high praise of the food prepared by Tina Bricknell-Webb follows a similar judgement by Giles Coren, the Saturday Times chief food critic, who gave Percy's an unprecedented nine out of ten.

According to the RAC, Four Dining Awards are only given to restaurants that 'indulge in innovative and exciting cuisine, prepared by a highly accomplished chef, with a menu distinguished by flair and imagination.

'Dishes should be faultlessly presented, resulting in a memorable and noteworthy meal.'

Tina Bricknell-Webb said she was 'absolutely thrilled' to receive the award.

'It's good not only for us, but for the region as well. It's an endorsement of the way things are moving forward in this industry.

'We want to give our customers the best experience they can hope for — we aim to achieve quality in every aspect.'