Richard Martin, who with his wife Sherry owns Kent Inns of Distinction, the privately owned Kent-based restaurant and hotel operator which includes The Blazing Donkey near Sandwich, The Dog Inn at Wingham Ivy House in Tonbridge, commented on their achievement: "I am delighted to have received such an honour so quickly. "We've proven the doubters wrong, who said that Ramsgate could not sustain a dedicated fish restaurant producing this level of cooking." "We're bringing in customers from outside the area, many of whom stay overnight, which can only be good for other businesses in the area." Voting for the competition ends 7 August. A total of 10 businesses from each region with the most votes will be assessed by an expert selection panel. Then a short list of three businesses in each of 10 areas will be visited by Market Kitchen's Matt Tebbutt, or Guardian restaurant critic Matthew Fort, and feature them on programme later this year. All 10 regional winners will be invited to appear on Market Kitchen. The overall national winner announced on the show will receive a trophy and a cheque for £5000.