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Preston residents expressed their embarrassment after Nando’s was voted the city’s ‘Restaurant of the Year’ and a Wetherspoon its best pub.

Shortlists for the top categories included a host of independent businesses, but local branches of the national chains stole the show.

The Lancashire city earnt a place in the history books by opening the UK’s first ever branch of KFC, in 1965.

The results, announced at the community-funded Smile Better Awards, were informed by public nominations, prompting disappointed runners-up to label voters as “unimaginative”.

Mark O’Rourke, 29, whose burger restaurant We Don’t Give a Fork missed out on the top prize, said that the current system was unjust.

“It isn’t fair on local independents that they are in the same categories as national chains," he told Blog Preston.

Calling for a category split between well-known nationals and smaller businesses, Mr O'Rourke added: “Plugs &Taps for me is the best pub in Preston but have to compete with Twelve Tellers for pub of the year."

The Twelve Tellers is one of 900 pubs operated by JD Wetherspoon across the country.

“Sorry guys we lost to Spoons. Those that know me know how much that has killed me,” tweeted Plug & Taps, following the announcement.

Twitter users swiftly offered their well-wishes, with one supporter writing: “Any award won by a Spoons probably isn't worth the effort. Keep smiling. Keep serving great beer. You win.”

Other users responded to the results with bafflement and humour.

“Who the **** are picking these awards? Nandos? Overpriced roast chicken with microwaved sides,” one wrote.

“Nando's ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha . It's like the public choosing boaty Mc boatface. What a funny and massive waste of time ha ha ha ha ha ha ha,” tweeted another.

Preston Business Improvement District (Preston BID), which organised the awards ceremony, defended the choices - insisting they had no say in them.

“To clarify, businesses nominate themselves or other businesses,” a representative wrote on Twitter.

“Entire list of nominees is put to public vote, finalists are the nominees with the most votes received, the winner is the one with the highest number of votes. We do not select the finalists or the winners.”

Another user tweeted: “I'd love to laugh at @BIDPreston's tweet, but they have blocked me, and I can only imagine it is from when I took the p*** out of a Local Food market they once organised which featured pick n mix, flavoured cheddar and hot dogs & burgers.”