The owners of a top-rated "neighbourly" restaurant are delighted to have received national recognition after seeing their energy bills increase by nearly fivefold.

Watson and Walpole, an Italian restaurant in Framlingham, received a nod from The Telegraph last week as one of the best places in the UK for a lunch under £30.

The restaurant opened in 2020 and is owned by TV presenter Ruth Watson and business partner, Robert Walpole.

Co-owner Ruth Watson said, "We are a local business and at the end of the day you just want happy people.

"Between Covid, the cost of living and energy prices, it's been really tricky.

"We're trying to recover as a small business so recognition is great."

Business partners Robert Walpole and Ruth Watson outside their Framlingham business. (Charlotte Bond)Ms Watson said they used to pay £750 for energy bills, now they pay £3,500.

She said, "We're still in recovery mode, we've had financial setbacks but you just have to survive.

"If money wasn't involved we would be happy.

"We remember who comes to us regularly, and having locals who know what we do is important to us."

Watson and Walpole also own the ice cream shop down the road, opposite Framlingham Castle and the 18th century bar behind the restaurant.

The business uses local produce wherever possible, but Ms Watson said she won't miss out on giving customers good quality products that are out of season in the UK for the sake of being local.