A BOURNEMOUTH restaurant has been honoured as a “local gem” in the UK’s most popular and bestselling restaurant guide.

Situated along the Bournemouth seafront that boasts unrivalled picturesque shores, WestBeach restaurant has been recognised by a spokesperson for the Waitrose Good Food Guide as a “perfect neighbourhood eatery serving freshly cooked food; somewhere that we all wish we had on our doorsteps”.

Andy Price, Owner of WestBeach, said: “We are hugely proud to once again be included in the Waitrose Good Food Guide. This is treatment to the hard work our teams have put in, creating the most memorable dinging experiences for our loyal patrons”.

“This accolade comes as we face increasing competition from national brands coming to the area, but we are proud to be independent and support local produce and suppliers.”

WestBeach was the only Bournemouth restaurant to be featured in the Guide, and its fresh servings of locally sourced seafood have also won them an AA Rosette award.

The seaside restaurant was also featured in the 2014 Good Food Guide, and was named as one of the ten best seaside restaurants in 2012.

The Waitrose Good Food Guide, which was created in 1951, reviews restaurants, pubs and cafes to bring together the best places to eat out from in the UK.

A contemporary design showcases an open-plan kitchen that allows customers to watch the chefs at work; and folding glass doors that open onto a deck terrace offer a stunning sea view.

Head chef Marcin Pacholarz and the team say they love the thrill of working with seafood, freshly caught and delivered from local fishing boats because, in his words, “you never know what you’re going to get!”.