It was the hottest ticket in town. On September 18, 220 guests gathered at Yalm in Norwich to toast the stars of the county’s hospitality industry as the Norfolk magazine Food & Drink Awards returned for the first time since 2019.
It was a brilliant evening. Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner from the vendors at Yalm and a goody bag packed with wonderful Norfolk food and drink.
Beer was supplied by West Acre-based Duration Brewery and the wine and prosecco was selected by Hallgarten Wines.
The awards were hosted by comedian Karl Minns, one half of the Nimmo Twins, and after the ceremony the party continued at Dicks Bar in Bedford Street.
The 2023 Norfolk magazine Food & Drink Awards are brought to you by Norfolk magazine in association with the Eastern Daily Press.
We would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to our headline sponsor Alliance East Anglia, and event supporter Bread Hospitality.
We would also like to thank our brilliant category sponsors: Brasted’s, Bread Source, Castlemeadow Care, Chestnut, Flour and Bean, The Gin Trap Inn, The Gunton Arms, Hotel at City College Norwich and The Visitor Economy Network Initiative (VENI).
Here we’re delighted to reveal the winners – huge congratulations to all our finalists.
BEST COFFEE SHOP/CAFÉ
Sponsored by Castlemeadow Care
WINNER
Danomeys, Norwich
FINALISTS
Heydon Village Tea Room, Heydon
The Old Store, Snettisham
BEST NEWCOMER
Sponsored by Bread Source
WINNER
The Bodega, Norwich
FINALISTS
Hirst’s Farm Shop & Cafe, Great Yarmouth
The White Hart, Ashill
BEST NORFOLK PRODUCER
Sponsored by Flour & Bean
WINNER
Black Shuck Distillery, Fakenham
FINALISTS
Lacons Brewery, Great Yarmouth
The English Distillery, Roudham
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by The Gunton Arms
WINNER
Gareth Rayner – The Gin Trap Inn, Ringstead
FINALISTS
Liam Nichols – STORE @ Stoke Mill, Stoke Holy Cross
Peter Clarke – Imperial Hotel, Great Yarmouth
FIELD TO FORK
Sponsored by Hotel School at City College Norwich
WINNER
Montys Mustards and Chutneys, Stanfield
FINALISTS
Barsham Brewery, Fakenham
The English Distillery, Roudham
FOOD AND DRINK RETAILER OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Hirst’s Farm Shop & Cafe, Great Yarmouth
FINALISTS
Jarrolds Food Hall, Norwich
Willow Tree Delicatessen, Hoveton
FOOD/ DRINK EXPERIENCE
Sponsored by Chestnut
WINNER
The Assembly House Norwich
FINALISTS
The Fox at Lyng
The Smokehouse Ormesby
FRONT OF HOUSE EXPERIENCE
Sponsored by Brasted’s
WINNER
Benedicts, Norwich
FINALISTS
Socius, Burnham Market
The Gin Trap Inn, Ringstead
PUB/BAR OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by The Gin Trap Inn
WINNER
Kings Head, Bawburgh
FINALISTS
The Kings Head, Letheringsett
The Loddon Swan
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by The Visitor Economy Network Initiative (VENI)
WINNER
Benedicts, Norwich
FINALISTS
STORE @ Stoke Mill, Stoke Holy Cross
Roger Hickmans, Norwich
STREET FOOD VENDOR
WINNER
The Cabin, Southrepps
FINALISTS
And eat it, Norwich
Fat Teds Streat Food, Sheringham
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Sponsored by Alliance East Anglia
WINNER
Richard Hughes – The Assembly House Norwich
