A RESTAURANT manager has been awarded a prestigious national award. 

Graeme Cumine, of Simon Rogan’s flagship restaurant L’Enclume in Cartmel, has been presented with a top hospitality industry accolade.

The prestigious awards celebrate the achievements of 30 of the industry's brightest stars each year under the age of 30, recognising each individual award winner’s outstanding ability and success in their respective field within the sector.

The recipients of the 36th Acorn Awards were revealed at a glittering presentation weekend hosted at Rudding Park Hotel & Spa, Harrogate, by The Caterer managing editor Lisa Jenkins and CH&Co chief operating officer Allister Richards.

Graeme said: "It still hasn’t sunk in that I’ve been presented with an Acorn Award but it’s definitely a career highlight alongside L’Enclume’s third Michelin star earlier this year. As an industry we’ve faced some tough times recently, which is why it’s more important than ever to highlight the opportunities the sector can provide to future generations, especially through initiatives like the Simon Rogan Academy.

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

Graeme now joins a cast of previous recipients who have won an Acorn, since the inaugural event hosted in 1986, including the likes of Marco Pierre White, Nicola Gartenberg, Marcus Wareing, Craig Jackson, and Sarah Tregoning.