The National Restaurant Awards 2011: In pictures

It celebrated and rewarded the finest chefs and their teams, the most inspirational operators and, ultimately, the country’s very best restaurants.

Special awards were given to a number of restaurants and individuals including Pollen Street Social for Best Newcomer, Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons for Best Hotel Restaurant and Galvin at Windows' Fred Sirieix for Personality of the Year.

It was also a good night for chef Simon Rogan who was voted Chefs' Chef and whose restaurants l'Enclume and Roganic were listed in the top 20.

Rogan joined hundreds of chefs and restaurateurs at the awards last night to hear their place in the list. Voted for by the National Restaurant Awards academy - a mixture of chefs, restaurateurs and food critics from 12 regions - the yearly awards aim to be a truly authoritative representation of independent nationwide opinion.

The photos taken from this gallery are courtesy of professional photographer Lloyd Sturdy. For more information, visit www.lloydsturdy.com.