ONCE again Dorset has maintained its position as one of the foodie hot spots of the country.

Five local restaurants are featured in the 2015 edition of The Good Food Guide which is published by Waitrose on Monday.

Local gems include Westbeach in Bournemouth, The Jetty in Christchurch, The Guildhall Tavern in Poole, Sienna in Dorchester and the Crab House Cafe in Weymouth.

Dorset is also home to some of the longest-serving restaurants in the Good Food Guide; Plumber Manor in Sturminster Newton has made an appearance for 42 years.

A total of 193 restaurants, pubs and cafés from across the region are included in the UK’s bestselling restaurant guide.

Elizabeth Carter, consultant editor of the Waitrose Good Food Guide said: “It seems the South West hasn’t missed a beat this year, with yet another bumper crop of new entries, a strong showing in our Top 50 Restaurant list and some splendid pubs adding interest to our first ever Top 50 Pub listing.

“It would seem that the South West is in no danger of losing its title as the foodie hot spot of Britain.”