It has also achieved a five-star rating in the Department of the Environment initiative to raise standards of hygiene and nutritional health throughout the country’s catering industry.

The Warrington Food Awards are the first of their type in the country. Peter Astley, Warrington Council’s Trading Standards Food/Health Safety Manager, said they want to “make sure we have high standards in place” and not make the awards ones that just anyone could win.

Hall Manager and Head Chef, Dave Harding was accompanied by Hall Director Tony Rowbottom when he went to the Gateway Centre to receive the award from the Deputy Mayor of Warrington, Councillor Graham Welborne.

Tony said: “The ‘scoresonthedoors’ initiative shows how catering establishments have been assessed and rated by the Food Hygiene Inspectors during their unexpected site visits. Subsequent to a visit and inspection of our kitchens by the Environment Inspector last March we were awarded a four-star rating. This was a very good result but the hall decided it wanted to improve standards and be reassessed for a five-star rating. This decision received the backing of the staff and the kitchen and cellar areas were virtually redecorated by them. In addition, Chef Dave Harding worked on updating food management procedures and controls.”

A further inspection resulted in the hall being told it was being given a five-star rating and that it had won the Warrington Food Award with Distinction. Dave said that to earn the award it was necessary to show that there was no cross contamination of food, that there were effective food management systems in place, that the cooking was of a high class and that the necessary cleaning standards were met.

Dave Harding joined the Hall in 2001 as Head Chef after spending 22 years in the Army, ending his career in the Royal Logistical Corps where he achieved the rank of Warrant Officer Class One.

Stuart Swinden, Chairman, said: “The Directors of the Warrington Masonic Hall are delighted that the Hall has received these two prestigious awards. They are the result of a lot of hard work by all of the staff of the Hall and we congratulate them on their success. The awards are the culmination of a significant amount of upgrading work to ensure it provides superior modern surroundings for all of our customers. Anyone booking weddings, parties and other functions can be absolutely confident that they will not only receive really good value for money and excellent service but that the food will be exactly what they want backed up by five star quality.”