THE Seaview Hotel, under head chef Tom Bull, has retained its prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand award — for the fifth year running.

The Bib Gourmand distinction highlights restaurants which offer good quality, good value cooking, and earns a coveted place in the Michelin Guides.

Tom is a shining example of home-grown talent, aged just 22.

He said: "To keep the Bib for five years running is a massive accomplishment. I am so proud of my team and for putting Isle of Wight food in the spotlight.

"It’s a real craft getting quality cooking at an affordable price.

"We’re lucky on the Isle of Wight to have an abundance of quality ingredients, from amazing vegetables, award-winning cheeses, the best crab on the planet, as well as the juiciest tomatoes and stunning garlic.

"To these add an amazing team of dedicated chefs who keep pushing to attain more and you have all the ingredients for success."

Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides, said: “Our Michelin Bib Gourmand may be less famous than our Michelin Stars but this distinction has a big following among our readers.

"Chefs are proud to offer great food at affordable prices and are striving to earn recognition for this.”

There are only 132 Michelin Bib Gourmand venues in the UK.

The Restaurant at the Seaview Hotel was the first, and so far only, venue on the Isle of Wight awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand.