A FAMILY-OWNED chain has fought off competition from national companies to be named the best restaurant group in the country.

Al Forno, which has three branches in Darlington, Middlesbrough and Ingleby Barwick, was honoured at the recent English Italian Awards.

It was shortlisted for the prestigious award alongside Darlington’s Uno Momento and branches of Carluccio’s, Gino D’Acampo’s My Restaurant and San Carlo Manchester.

At a glitzy ceremony in Manchester earlier this month, co-owner Erdal Kuzgun was thrilled to hear that his business had come out on top, despite such stiff competition.

He said: “They didn’t just shout out Al Forno, they shouted out Al Forno Darlington, meaning we helped to put Darlington on the map – we had people coming up to us asking where it was.

“I feel great, it was the best news to get, especially knowing we were going up against all of those big chains.

“The award makes me feel extremely proud and it really shows what hard work and dedication can do.

“My business partner, Liam Percy, and I set up our first restaurant in Middlesbrough in 2006 and we are still here and still growing all these years later.

“I think the judges liked that we are a family and we’re from around here, that our staff and suppliers are all local and that we have a lot of regular customers coming back through our doors.

“We also have a great relationship with the community and sponsor football teams and work to help young people.”

Mr Kuzgun, who describes himself as “very passionate” about his work, added: “This award means that going forward, we will be even stronger as a business.”

Winners of the 2018 English Italian Awards were announced on Sunday, October 7 and also saw Darlington restaurant Stable Hearth named best pizzeria in England.

For more information about Al Forno, visit al-forno.co.uk.