A GROUP that runs a Winchester restaurant has been named as one of the best places to work in the country.

Rick Stein Group, owned and run by Rick and Jill Stein with their sons, Jack, Ed and Charlie, has been named as one of The 100 Best Large Companies To Work For 2024.

Best Companies, an independent authority surveying UK workplace culture and employee engagement, announced the awards on Thursday, November 7.

Read more: Hampshire country pub in quiet village up for sale

Ellie Grigg, 25, assistant manager at Rick Stein Winchester (Image: Charles Elliman) Assistant manager at Rick Stein Winchester, Ellie Grigg said: "The fact that he's still so involved and Jill Stein is still so involved and the care and the involvement they have with the company is one of the reasons why we have been so successful."

She added: "Even though we're four hours away from Cornwall, we don't feel disconnected and you don't just feel like you're a part of a chain, you feel like you're a part of the company."

The accolade comes ahead of the brand’s 50th anniversary in 2025, marking half a century since Rick and Jill Stein opened The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow in 1975.

Ranking 80 in the 2024 list, the Best Companies survey is the largest in the UK, surveying both employees and management to determine a true measure of workplace engagement and inspiring all businesses to build a happier, healthier workforce.

Leadership, personal growth, well-being, and team dynamics are all accessed. Rick Stein Group also placed 15th in the Leisure & Hospitality Sector, and 30th in the South-West Regional lists.

Read more: Help! Romsey restaurant can't stop winning awards!

Rick Stein with Charlie Stein, Jack Stein, Jill Stein and Ed Stein (Image: Archant) Director at Rick Stein Group Charlie Stein, said: “We’re honoured to receive a spot in this year’s 100 Best Companies To Work For list. Ever since my parents started the business in 1975, our goal has been to make everyone feel valued and part of a strong team.

"Our amazing employees help make the Rick Stein business what it is today - I’d like to thank the entire team for their support and for making Stein’s one of the best places to work in the UK."

The Rick Stein Group is one of the largest private sector employers in Cornwall and its average number of full-time employees stands at 650, encompassing 10 restaurants, a pub, a cookery school, 40 guest rooms and four shops, alongside an online fishmongers and homeware shop.