FOODIES in Cumbria could soon be whipped into a frenzy after the best-rated restaurants in the UK were announced by TripAdvisor.

L'Enclume in Cartmel has been rated as the sixth-best fine dining experience in the country. The two Michelin-starred restaurant fought off competitors from much larger cities including London, Edinburgh and Birmingham.

Since opening in 2002 the restaurant has attracted widespread acclaim for its innovative menu and stunning setting in the beautiful Lake District.

The top spot was taken by Yorkshire pub The Black Swan in Oldstead. The remainder of the top five included Raymond Blanc's Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Great Milton, Oxford; Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck, in Berkshire; the Roux brother's Waterside Inn in Henley-on-Thames, and The Three Chimneys, on the Isle of Skye.

The award comes as yet another feather in the cap for the Cartmel eatery. Led by head chef Simon Rogan the restaurant has been labelled as "Britain's most exciting restaurant" by The Daily Telegraph and holds a coveted 10/10 rating in the Good Food Guide . For the past four years the restaurant has been named as the guide's best restaurant in the UK.

The National Restaurant Awards this year also honoured the restaurant. Going up against renowned locations across the UK L'Enclume came 16th nationwide.

Although a tasting menu will set a diner back around £130 that has not deterred thousands of customers coming to the village. The restaurant serves an estimated 30,000 customers each year, a figure which is sure to rise after its inclusion in this latest top restaurant guide.