A PENZANCE restaurateur who celebrated the birth of a baby boy two weeks ago has another reason to be cheerful this week after winning a coveted Michelin award.

Untitled by Robert Wright has gained recognition from inspectors less than eight months after opening on the site of the former Abbey Restaurant just off Chapel Street.

It was one of 28 new restaurants this year across the UK to be given a Bib Gourmand – a special Michelin award recognising value for money.

Robert, aged 40, said he was absolutely stunned at the news, which comes just two weeks after his partner Helen Venning gave birth to their first son, Arthur.

"The award is for excellence and value for money," he said. "This is exactly what I wanted.

Bustling

"I didn't want the Michelin star; I didn't want to be ultra-fine dining with just a few people in the restaurant. I wanted it to be really busy and bustling and people just enjoying food."

Untitled is one of only four restaurants in Cornwall to have the Bib Gourmand, joining the Black Rock in St Ives, Rick Stein's Café in Padstow and The View in Millbrook.

The Michelin Guide reads: "The chef credits Alistair Little for instilling in him the philosphy of simplicity and keeping flavour honest. A slight French edge runs through the menu, where the focus is on fish. Alternatively, you can order tapas on the ground floor."

Robert, who was previously head chef at the Gurnard's Head at Zennor, said he only found out about the award when he was contacted by a journalist last week, while he was away on paternity leave.

"I couldn't believe it," he said. "I always understood that it would take a couple of years to get established and get recognised. I'm just looking to give really good-quality, honest food at a reasonable price. This award has confirmed that I'm doing exactly that."