The National Restaurant Awards 2012: In pictures
The awards, voted for by a nationwide academy of chefs, restaurateurs and food writers, celebrate the best of the UK gastronomic scene from three Michelin-star fine dining to in-vogue, casual street food concepts.
The Ledbury celebrated topping the list of the top 100 restaurants in the UK for the third year in a row while Jason Atherton's Pollen Street Social was runner-up.
Tom Kerridge's gastropub The Hand and Flowers completed the top three while the rest of the list proved good reading for Rex Restaurant Associates who saw all three of their venues make the cut.
Opening the ceremony, Restaurant magazine editor William Drew said the UK now boasts one of the most innovative gastronomic scenes in the world - a claim backed up by the more than 30 new or re-entries onto the list.
Special awards were also presented to a number of chefs and restaurants including Phil Howard of The Square who was voted Chef's Chef of the Year and Chris Corbin and Jeremy King who were named joint Personality of the Year.
Chefs, restaurateurs and food industry experts enjoyed a drinks reception before taking their seats at 41 tables in the venue to enjoy a three-course meal and the awards themselves followed by an exclusive after-party.
This photo gallery, with images supplied by Rob Lawson, give just a taste of the evening.
