A QUARTET of county businesses are celebrating after scooping top awards.

Culinary stars from across East and Midlothian were hailed at the Mid and East Lothian Food and Drink Awards at the end of last month.

Archerfield Walled Garden; The Filling Station, Longniddry; The Nether Abbey Hotel, North Berwick; and Carberry Tower Mansion House and Estate were all celebrating at the awards, which took place at Eskmills Venue in Musselburgh.

The awards, which are hosted by Mid and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with East Lothian Food and Drink and The Business Partnership, are designed to showcase the great and the good of food and drink in the region, and reward the hard-working people behind them, including best restaurateurs, hoteliers, pub landlords, cafe owners and food and drink producers.

Among the winners was Archerfield Walled Garden, which won ‘Best Eatery in a Visitor Attraction’.

The business opened six years ago and includes a cafe, food market, gift shop, brewery, showcase and fairy trail attraction.

Meanwhile, The Filling Station, on Longniddry’s Kitchener Crescent, was named ‘Takeaway of the Year’.

The business offers hot and cold takeaway food ranging from filled rolls and baguettes to burgers, baked potatoes, salad, soups and smoothies.

The ‘Pub of the Year’ prize went to The Nether Abbey, which serves locals, golfers and visitors.

Finally, Carberry Tower was presented with the ‘Commitment to Developing Young Talent’ award.

The business recognises that young people are the future and, now more than ever, investment is needed to ensure that young people are trained, equipped and encouraged.

Keith Barbour, chief executive of the local chamber of commerce, was delighted that the awards ceremony had proven a great success.

He said: “East Lothian and Midlothian are rightly renowned for the quality of their food and drink and we are so pleased to help recognise those in the industry who have excelled.

“I would like to express my thanks to our sponsors, all those who took time to enter and the judges for ensuring that every entry was scrutinised and deliberated on as part of our process of deciding on tonight’s winners.”

A two-course dinner was prepared for the evening by East Lothian-based Hickory Catering.

Category winners each received a special Food and Drink Awards trophy and a bottle of 12-year-old single malt whisky, courtesy of East Lothian’s own Glenkinchie Distillery.

Mr Barbour added: “We must also congratulate all the shortlisted businesses.

“Despite not winning tonight, the very fact they were in the running is a major achievement, so well done to them too.”