Barrow restaurant recognised at national Italian Awards 2024

Dodona House, found on Duke Street, was competing at the Italian Awards 2024 which aim to promote and celebrate the best Italian cuisine that the UK has to offer.

Diamant and Horizont Pllana were also listed as being 'Highly Recommended' in the Best Restaurant Manager category.

Read more: Dodona Mediterranean Sandwich Bar opens in Barrow | The Mail (nwemail.co.uk)

That accolade eventually went to the Courtyard Italian Restaurant of Great Yarmouth, though the Dodona pair were still celebrated for the high standards they are setting in the industry.

The ceremony took place at the Queens Hotel in Leeds on Sunday, October 6, serving as a 'true celebration' of what the industry has been cooking up over the past 12 months.

The owners said: "It's a proud moment - to be awarded highly recommended is a great achievement, a dream come true.

"Thank you to our amazing customers and Italian Awards judges for giving us this award."

Diamant and Horizont pictured at last year's awards ceremony (Image: Submitted) Stay up to date with news about your favourite local businesses. Subscribe to The Mail in this flash sale

The restaurant was also named as a finalist for having the best pizza in the country, though they were just edged out by Crust Pizza.

It is the second year running that Dodona has been recognised at the UK awards, having been nominated as the best restaurant in the north west in 2023.

"It’s an amazing achievement for all of us here at Dodona and for our outstanding hard work to get recognised is overwhelming," the pair added.

"We thank all our customers for giving us the support - our customers are our biggest drive, without them we wouldn’t be here."

The award recognition is just the latest sign of progress for the restaurant, with the team having expanded the business earlier this year.

In March, the Dodona Sandwich Bar on Dalton Road first opened its doors, serving 'daytime' versions of what the restaurant has grown popular for.