A SOUTH Lakes restaurant is toasting its success after being lauded as one of the top eateries in the area.

Virginia House in Ulverston has been awarded a second AA rosette in recognition of the outstanding quality of its food and service.

For a young business with a small staff, it is a massive boost and vindication that they are onto a winning formula.

Head chef and co-owner of Virginia House, Craig Sherrington, is over the moon that only eight months after they won their first award, the staff have won again.

He said: "It's a fantastic achievement, not just for me but for the whole team. We're only a young business and have only been here 18 months. To get two rosettes in the first two years is amazing."

The quickfire success is due partly to the streamlining of the day-to-day running of the business.

A marketing company was hired to take on the work of promoting the business, leaving Mr Sherrington, his wife and co-owner Louise and the rest of the team time to take the business to the next level.

Mr Sherrington said: "I can focus on the food. There has been a big pressure taken off us which lets us focus on the food."

The move has certainly paid off, with customers remarking to staff that they have "upped their game" over recent months.

However, the news that the restaurant had secured a second rosette came like a bolt from the blue.

Ordinarily restaurants are informed of an impending assessment from the AA, but last Wednesday the team at Virginia House had no warning.

Mr Sherrington said: "We're a very small team and that's why I'm so proud of it. This time it was a complete surprise; normally you can gauge how well an inspection went."

With the addition of a second rosette, the restaurant is now the only with that accolade south of Lakeside.

Mr Sherrington feels that the award is an example of how Ulverston is on the rise and doing itself proud.

He added: "I'm proud of the town. Ulverston is making a real effort to up its game and I'm proud to be part of that."

There is more than food on offer at Virginia House, read about the quirky Scalextric club set up at the restaurant

Find out the story from when Virginia House was awarded its first rosette