The cream of the region’s restaurants triumphed at the annual Hi-Life Dining Awards, held in spectacular style at Manchester’s Midland Hotel.

It was a night when top chefs exchanged their whites for dinner jackets and ball gowns and danced the night away with their teams,alongside a clutch of celebrities, including Emmerdale's Kelsey-Beth Crossley, who braved the chilly weather to look stunning in a black mini-dress and former model Mandy Smith, who also chose black for her chic fitted dress.

The male guests who chose to wrap up warm included former Oldham FC boss and soccer pundit Iain Dowie, Slade frontman Noddy Holder, and award-winning hair stylist Trevor Sorbie.

Gwen Dickey, the voice behind Seventies disco hitmakers Rose Royce entertained the throng with her songs, including Car Wash and Wishing On A Star, and host Paul Ross got the crowd chuckling with a string of jokes aimed at his brother, chat show king Jonathan.

The discerning diners tucked into a meal of smoked salmon parfait, rump of lamb and pannacotta with woodland berries, prepared by Gary Jenkins, executive head chef at the Midland, which was nominated in the Best Overall Restaurant category.

See pictures from the night in the slideshow below ...

The awards – affectionately known as the ‘Hildas’ – are voted for by members of the dining club. Winners were once confined to the north west but as Hi-Life is now nationwide, more nominees than ever hailed from other regions.

So Pecks owner Andy Pear was especially proud that his Congleton restaurant scooped Best Platinum high-end dining category for the second year running.

"I am absolutely delighted," he told me. "It is a real team achievement and a credit to Les Wassall, our head chef, and restaurant manager Matt Walsh."

Walkden restaurant Grenache also won for a second successive year. In 2011 it was named Best Manchester Restaurant but this year went one better and claimed the Best North West Restaurant spot.

In October, the eaterie was presented with the Taste Of Salford Award and owner Huss Abbas said of his latest accolade: "This is just brilliant. I think customers really appreciate that Grenache is such a friendly restaurant. But this award goes to my team, including head chef Ken Calder and people like 18-year-old chef Ryan Miles."

Another local winner was Manchester’s Bem Brasil as Best Newcomer and The Living Room, the bar and restaurant chain that originated in the city, was given a Special Recognition award.

The Midland and Manchester’s Room restaurant lost out to Michael Caines Restaurant at Abode Chester in the Best Overall Restaurant category.

Veteran Manchester chef Enzo Mauro, of Italian restaurant Stock, was pipped to the Best Chef award after a screened cook off by Phil Fanning, from Milton Keynes restaurant Paris House.

Lisa Lund, Hi-Life commercial director, said: "What better way to welcome in 2012."

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