A RESTAURANT and bakery chain scooped a number of titles at the Purbeck Business Awards.

The event, at The Mowlem Theatre on Thursday (February 8), saw the best of Purbeck business gather to recognise achievements in a range of categories.

Mayor of Swanage, Cllr Tina Foster, and mayor of Wareham, Cllr Carol Turner, joined sponsors – including your Purbeck Gazette – to hand out awards to deserving companies.

Leading the way, with two wins and the overall Business of the Year prize, was restaurant The Italian Kitchen, at Wareham Quay.

The firm – which also runs The Italian Bakery in Swanage – won Restaurant of the Year and head chef, Shannon Richards, was crowned Rising Star/Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Claire Burnet, from chocolate firm Chococo, who sponsored the Rising Star/Young Entrepreneur award, said: “Chococo are delighted to be sponsoring the Young Entrepreneur award at this year’s Purbeck Business Awards.

“As a business which is very proud of being founded in Swanage 21 years ago, we are thrilled to be involved in the awards that showcase and support young businesses being established in this very special corner of Dorset.”

Best Tourism Attraction was won by Swanage Railway, New Business by art gallery/bespoke furniture makers Grange Gallery in Wareham, Best Place to Work by long established men’s outfitters AF Joy in Wareham, and Family business by local garden centre Holme for Gardens.

Walking off with the best café award was Garden Gate Tea Room and Best B2B Business was won by Fresh Leaf Creative.

Other Swanage businesses to go home with an award included Andy Knill Art, Jurassic Care, and Corbens Estate Agents who won Independent Business of the Year.

Purbeck Gazette editor Paul Jones with Wareham Mayor, Cllr Carol Turner, and Mayor of Swanage, Cllr Tina Foster

Paul Jones, Purbeck Gazette editor, added: “It’s fantastic to see the hard work of so many locally-based businesses recognised.

“We are proud to sponsor the New Business Award and will continue to do our bit to promote the efforts of Purbeck people.

“Congratulations to everyone who was nominated – keep up the good work.”