A WELLS restaurant has been named in The Good Food Guide's 100 Best Local Restaurants list, recognising its contribution to the community.

Root Wells, at 12 Sadler Street, was voted one of Britain's best restaurants by its community and was visited by "expert inspectors" from The Good Food Guide who anonymously ate in the restaurant.

The Good Food Guide, a restaurant review A to Z, announced its annual 100 Best Local Restaurant list on Wednesday, July 24.

The Good Food Guide's verdict on Root Wells, begins: "Expect vibrant colours, vivid flavours, seductive aromas and inspired creativity by the bucketload at this vegetable-led, sharing-plates restaurant."

Rob Howell, 32, head chef and part-owner of Roots Wells with his wife Meg Oakley, said: "I can honestly say it's not the reason we do it, to win these awards. However, it's always amazing to be included and it confirms we're on the right path.

"This one's extra special, because it is about local restaurants, and the criteria is about being part of the community, having people from all ages, and a diverse clientele. It's about interacting, and using local suppliers."

Rob, who lives in Wells with Meg and their two children, grew up in the town and worked at Goodfellows restaurant before moving to work as a chef in London, France, Edinburgh, and Bristol.

He then worked for Josh Eggleton as head chef at the Michelin-starred pub The Pony & Trap, and helped Josh open Root Bristol in 2017  — Root Wells' sister restaurant — which Rob ran with Meg.

After moving back to Wells, Rob and Meg "wanted to bring a neighbourhood restaurant to their home town" and set about opening Root Wells in 2022. The restaurant is part of Josh and Holly Eggleton’s Pony Restaurant Group.

Rob said: "It's extra special for me personally, because coming from Wells and growing up here, and now coming back and having my own restaurant here is full circle, its really special. So we're very happy here."

He added: "It wasn't expected and it's amazing because it is people voting so it's actually real. It really means a lot.

"We're very lucky to have some very talented and special people working with us. The main thing is it's enjoyable to go to work, which makes the whole thing even even better."

This year, The Good Food Guide said it received an "astonishing number" of nominations from diners across the country, all keen to champion their favourite places to eat.

Bavette in Horsforth, Leeds, has been crowned Britain’s Best Local Restaurant, having beaten off competition from across the country to take the prestigious title for 2024.

A spokesperson for The Good Food Guide said: "An unprecedented 60,000 votes were cast, leaving the Guide’s team of expert inspectors the tasty task of anonymously eating in a vast number of restaurants across the country.

"The result is a snapshot of extraordinary local creativity and talent, personal hospitality and genuine community spirit."

Winners on the 'Top 100 Local Restaurants' list in Southwest England:

The Farm Table at Darts Farm — Topsham 
Upstairs at Landrace — Bath
The Barrington Boar — Barrington
The Scallop Shell — Bath
The Farmers Arms — Bideford
The Lost Kitchen — Chettiscombe
Wild Artichokes — Kingsbridge
Caper and Cure — Bristol 
Tare Bistro — Bristol 
Root Wells — Wells
Sam & Jak  — Cirencester 
Brassica — Beaminster
Noah’s  — Bristol 
Edie’s  —   St Austell 
North Street Kitchen  — Fowey