A Shropshire restaurant has been placed at the top table of eating establishments around the world.

The Merchant House in Ludlow was named 14th in the list of the top 20 restaurants in the world.

Restaurant Magazine asked a number of the best qualified reviewers and restaurateurs to nominate their favourite places to eat - a combination of fine food, service, location and general atmosphere.

Leading the way for British restaurateurs is temperamental chef Gordon Ramsay, whose flagship London eaterie is judged the fifth best place in the world to eat.

It's all I can do to keep up with other restaurants in Ludlow, let alone across the world Sean Hill

The Merchant House, where meals cost around �33 per person, not only gained 14th place in the list but was also awarded the prize for Outstanding Value restaurant.

Other British restaurants in the Top 50 are Gidleigh Park, Devon (19); Nobu, London (26); Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, Oxfordshire (29); celebrity hang-out The Ivy, London (31); the much acclaimed Three Chimneys, on the Isle of Skye (32); Petrus, another of Ramsay's London's eateries, (33); The Square, London (43); River Cafe, London (47); and St John, London (49).

Delighted Merchant House owner and chef Sean Hill said the verdict of the judges justified his decision to open a restaurant in Ludlow.

"As well as being attractive, Ludlow is a living town and south Shropshire is a living area, rather than the Cotswolds which tends to be a bit of a retirement ghetto," said Mr Hill.

"I thought with a small restaurant it wasn't asking too much to find 15-20 people each evening who wanted to eat out.

"I thought I would give it a go, and I suppose it has worked out well."

Mr Hill said Ludlow was "choc-a-bloc" with good restaurants.

"It amuses me. It's all I can do to keep up with other restaurants in Ludlow, let alone across the world."

Thom Hetherington, from Restaurant Magazine, said: "It has been a tough couple of years for the UK restaurant scene but it has been interesting that a lot of the casualties have been in the low and mid range.

"Those restaurants at the top end are just getting better and better."

He added: "Another feature which is emerging is the number of fine restaurants that are situated away from London.

"More and more of the top chefs are deciding that rather than burn out in London, they would prefer to get a property in the middle of nowhere, where they have less competition, prices are cheaper and they can indulge themselves."