A LAKE District chef has won a prestigious award recognising his outstanding ability and success.

Dan McGeorge, head chef at Rothay Manor, Ambleside, has joined the ranks of a phenomenal cast of previous recipients of Acorn Awards, including the likes of Marcus Wareing, Jason Atherton, and Marco Pierre White.

Leading hospitality industry magazine The Cater hosted a virtual awards ceremony on Wednesday afternoon to present the winners of the 34th Acorn Awards with their coveted trophies.

Also known as the 30 under 30, the awards celebrate the achievements of 30 of the industry's brightest stars each year under the age of 30.

Mr McGeorge said: "It still hasn’t sunk in that I’ve been presented with an Acorn Award but there’s no doubt this is one of my career highlights so far.

"This year’s been a difficult one for hospitality right across the country, which is why it’s more important than ever to highlight the opportunities the sector can provide to future generations.

"And it’s more important than ever that we nurture that talent as it develops, because those people will become the next generation of chefs, restaurateurs, and hoteliers if we look after them properly.’’