Chez Bruce has been named as the country's best wine restaurant, after picking up the top prize at the inaugural Drinking Out Excellence Awards this week.

The Bruce Poole and Nigel Platts-Martin-owned modern European venue in Wandsworth, London - which was also voted European Wine Restaurant of the Year - beat off competition from 12 other outlets to take the Establishment of the Year crown, sponsored by headline sponsor, Producteurs Plaimont, in the new event hosted by Harpers Wine & Spirit.


The judges praised its "eclectic, but always thoughtful and exciting list, featuring wines from all over the world".


Other big winners on a night which saw the cream of the UK's on-trade gather at London's St Martin's Lane Hotel, included:
• Enoteca Turi, the Italian Wine Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Cavit
• Galvin Bistro de Luxe, the French Wine Restaurant of the Year
• Hakkasan, the Best Drinks List in an Asian Restaurant
• and Mahiki, the Spirits Venue of the Year, sponsored by Chairman's Reserve
• Gaucho was named best New World Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by the Wine of Chile
• Texture was Champagne Restaurant of the Year
• Champagne Bar St Pancras was Champagne Bar of the Year
• Boisdale was named best After Dinner Drinks Restaurant of the Year
• Moro for best Spanish Restaurant of the Year
• Vinoteca for best Wine Bar of the Year award sponsored by Errazuriz
• Matt Wilkin picked up the Wine Pub of the Year for his Princess Victoria venture in Shepherd's Bush
• He was also named Wine Personality of the Year, sponsored by Matthew Clark
• Spirits writer Dave Broom was voted the Spirits Personality of the Year.


The DOEAs are a major new annual initiative from William Reed Business Media to reward the establishments in the UK with the best wine and spirits offerings, and the individuals behind them.


They are judged by a panel of industry experts and wine and food writers, including Tim Atkin MW, Peter McCombie MW, Paul Wootton and Sarah Jane Evans.

Richard Siddle, editor of Harpers Wine & Spirit said: "These awards are not based on what outlets say they've done, but what their peers in the industry know they are doing."


Siddle added: "The shortlist wasn't down to how many people entered or who had the time to do so, it was down to the nominations of people who actually drink and eat in their outlets."