Over 550 highly esteemed guests, finalists and sponsors joined Cotswold Life to celebrate the 12th Cotswold Life Food & Drink Awards at Cheltenham Racecourse on Monday July 7. Hosted by Adam Henson, the awards celebrated the good and the great from the region’s food & drink industry.
Editor, Mike Lowe commented: “The food and drink industry in this region is an economic powerhouse. We grow the finest crops, we make brilliant cheese, the meat we farm is second to none, we have excellent breweries and vineyards and waiting to take advantage of this Cotswold bounty are some of the finest chefs and cooks in the country. The results can be seen at our farmers’ markets, in our shops and in our superb pubs, hotels and restaurants. We are so very lucky to be in this position and at Cotswold Life we celebrate the success and excellence of our region’s food professionals.”
And the winners are...
Newcomer of the Year sponsored by New Wave Seafood
Winner: Toast the Cotswolds, Bourton-on the-Water
Highly Commended: 131 The Promenade, Cheltenham, Russell’s Fish and Chips, Broadway
Butcher of the Year sponsored by NFU Mutual Moreton-in-Marsh and Cheltenham
Winner: Michael Hart & Son, Cirencester
Highly Commended: Andy Creese Butchers, Newent, Country Quality Meats, Nailsworth
Local Tea/Coffee Shop of the Year sponsored by Cotteswold Dairy
Winner: Aunt Martha’s Tea Room, Drybrook
Highly Commended: Café Mosaic, Cirencester, Jaffe & Neale, Chipping Norton
Best Independent Retailer sponsored by WSP Solicitors
Winner: Horsley Community Shop, Horsley
Highly Commended: Market Garden, Cirencester, CheeseWorks, Cheltenham
Best Farm Shop sponsored by Cotswold Fayre
Winner: Over Farm Market, Over
Highly Commended: Old Farm, Dorn, Pages Farm Shop, Mickleton
Best Farmers’ Market Stallholder sponsored by Bruton Knowles
Winner: Severn Cider, Tewkesbury Farmers’ Market
Highly Commended: Fair and Square Chocolate Brownies, Cirencester Farmers’ Market, Gorsehill Abbey Cheese, Cheltenham Farmers’ Market
Food Product of the Year sponsored by Warner’s Budgens
Winner: Classic Steak and Ale Pie, The Cotswold Traiteur, Moreton-in-Marsh
Highly Commended: Hampton Blue Cheese, Woefuldane Organic Dairy, Minchinhampton, Nelson Loaf, The Artisan Baker, Stroud
Drinks Product of the Year sponsored by BBC Radio Gloucestershire
Winner: Pliny the Elderflower, Corinium Ales, Cirencester
Highly Commended: Stroud Organic Ale, Stroud Brewery, Stroud, Yubby Ale, The Ebrington Arms, Chipping Campden
Best Local Supplier/Producer sponsored by Gloucester Services
Winner: Relish the Taste, Cheltenham
Highly Commended: New Wave Seafood, Fairford, Watsons Bakery, Guiting Power
Best Neighbourhood Pub sponsored by 10 Yetis
Winner: The Crown and Sceptre, Stroud
Highly Commended: The Prince Albert, Stroud, The Royal Oak, Tetbury
Best Pub Restaurant sponsored by Tayabali Tomlin
Winner: The Village Pub, Barnsley
Highly Commended: The Butchers Arms, Oakridge Lynch, The Kingham Plough, Kingham
Best Cotswold Menu sponsored by Frobishers Juices
Winner: The Priory Inn, Tetbury
Highly Commended: Lower Slaughter Manor, Lower Slaughter, Star Bistro, Ullenwood
Chef of the Year sponsored by Handelsbanken Cheltenham
Winner: Gareth Fulford, Purslane, Cheltenham
Highly Commended: Jon Howe, Lumiere, Cheltenham, Marcus Ashenford, 5 North Street, Winchcombe
Restaurant of the Year sponsored by Peter Hickman Hairdressers
Winner: Lumiere, Cheltenham
Highly Commended: 5 North Street, Winchcombe, Purslane, Cheltenham
Hotel Restaurant of the Year sponsored by Hollies Care Centre
Winner: Dormy House Hotel, Broadway
Highly Commended: Buckland Manor, Buckland, Lords of the Manor, Upper Slaughter
2014 Cotswold Food Hero sponsored by The Daffodil
Winner: Emily Watkins, The Kingham Plough, Kingham
