Leading pub chef celebrates double win at Booker Awards

Leading pub chef Norman Sinclair is celebrating a double win at his Inverness gastro-pub the Cawdor Tavern in this year's Booker Prize for Excellence.

Along with the Best Pub Caterer prize, Norman also collected the overall Best Caterer title from the 13 categories at the Booker Award ceremony.

The pub, sited near Cawdor Castle, offers fresh food and local produce wherever possible, attracting visitors from miles around - a very different story from eight years ago when Norman bought the pub.

"When we originally took over the Cawdor Tavern it had become a drinking pub serving only convenience food," he said. "We improved on that straight away by investing significantly in a new kitchen and introducing home-cooked foods."

The pub also makes a point of welcoming the entire family. "We are commended by people the whole time on how well we cater for children," said Norman.

"Parents want more for their children nowadays and we're always looking for new things from the main menu to adapt for children.

"The double award is a fantastic recognition of the whole team's hard work and total dedication. I'm delighted."

The award ceremony at London's Park Lane Hilton marked the 10th anniversary of the Booker Prize for Excellence, set up to recognise and reward independent caterers.

Booker marketing director Mark Collier said: "It is down to the efforts, energy and total dedication of the winners that standards have moved so far and so fast. They have demonstrated that UK catering is going from strength to strength, now a necessity in view of people's increasingly sophisticated tastes and high expectations."

Pictured: Norman Sinclair (centre) accepts his Booker Prize for Excellence​