The Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, was the setting last night, 14 September, for the prestigious annual Food and Travel Reader Awards.

Chefs holding between them 14 Michelin stars were among the esteemed guests – a gathering of the best of the worlds of food, drink and travel.

Michel Roux Jr was a standout winner, and by the end of the night was weighted down with trophies for Timeless Classic Restaurant of the Year for Le Gavroche and the overall UK Restaurant of the Year.

Not to mention a magnum of Champagne Pommery.

Breakthrough Chef of the Year was Tomos Parry, 28, of Mayfair restaurant Kitty Fisher's – a young talent who is riding a current wave of success for his fresh and individual style of cooking.

Italy won Destination of the Year – with readers of the magazine voting it their favourite holiday spot a second year running. Rome, Florence and Sicily have never been more in the limelight.

Dinner was no afterthought, curated specially for Food and Travel by three of last year's winners – Robert Ortiz (Lima), Jason Atherton (Pollen Street Social) and Shaun Rankin (Ormer).

Wines came courtesy of Penfolds and were matched to each dish.

Publisher Gregor Rankin said:

'This year's Reader Awards was attended by the leading lights of the food, drink and travel industries – an astounding success that tops off our second year of double-digit growth in Food and Travel magazine's newsstand sales.'

Editor Mark Sansom said:

'It was undoubtedly a top night. From start to finish, the room was packed with all the good noises: laughter, loud chat and popping corks. Cruise lines, airlines, tour operators and top chefs all getting together is what makes our Awards so unique. Thanks to all the readers for voting in their droves.'

Full list of winners:

Tour Operator of the Year: Abercrombie & Kent
Short-Haul Airline of the Year: EasyJet
Long-Haul Airline of the Year: Emirates
Cruise Line of the Year, Small Ship/Adventure: Oceania
Cruise Line of the Year, Ocean: Celebrity Cruises
Cruise Line of the Year, River: UniWorld
Cruise Line of the Year, overall winner: UniWorld
Specialist Retailer of the Year: Neal's Yard (London)
Cookery School of the Year: Tante Marie (Woking)
Book of the Year: Persiana by Sabrina Ghayour
Hotel of the Year, City: Claridge's (London)
Hotel of the Year, Rural: Lime Wood (New Forest)
Hotel of the Year, B&B: Headland House (St Ives)
Hotel of the Year, Gourmet Bolthole: Tulse Hill Hotel
Hotel of the Year, International: The Atlantic (Jersey)
Bar of the Year: Sushisamba (London)
City of the Year: Edinburgh
Destination of the Year: Italy
Breakthrough Chef of the Year: Tomos Parry, Kitty Fisher's
Chef of the Year: Tom Kerridge
Restaurant of the Year, London: The Ledbury
Restaurant of the Year, Outside London: Northcote (Blackburn)
Restaurant of the Year, Newcomer: Adam Handling at Caxton (London)
Restaurant of the Year, Timeless Classic: Le Gavroche (London)
Restaurant of the Year, overall winner: Le Gavroche

For more information, and for high-resolution images, contact: 

Mark Sansom, editor, 020 7501 0515, mark.sansom@foodandtravel.com
Gregor Rankin, publisher, gregor.rankin@foodandtravel.com