RESTAURANTS in south Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have been named among the top 200 in the country.

Chewton Glen in New Milton, Le Poussin at Whitley Ridge in Brockenhurst, Chesil Rectory in Winchester and The George in Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight have all been recommended in food critic Egon Ronay's newly-published RAC Guide 2005 to the Top 200 Restaurants in the UK.

In total, 270 restaurants in the country were inspected anonymously, 200 of which made it into the guide, rated with one, two or three stars.

In addition to its recommendation in the guide, Chewton Glen was awarded a two-star rating, signifying that it showed "a truly exceptional level of excellence".

Andrew Stembridge, managing director of the hotel in Christchurch Road, said: "We are extremely delighted to have been included in the guide."

Le Poussin, Chesil Rectory and The George were among the restaurants awarded a one-star rating, indicating that they "stand out among the best".

The guide has just been published for the first time in eight years.

Mr Ronay described the Hampshire and Isle of Wight restaurants included in the guide as "truly excellent".