The winners of the Food Lifestyle Awards 2025 were crowned on September 15 at Harbour House in Bristol. Discover which distinguished indie businesses won awards and see exclusive photographs from the night
For over a decade, we’ve championed the South West’s best independent food and drink businesses through our Food Lifestyle Awards. The awards cover businesses from Cornwall to the Cotswolds, Bristol, Bath, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset, and each year we receive tens of thousands of votes from our Food Lifestyle magazine readers.
Following over 100,000 votes, the winners were revealed at a celebratory supper and awards ceremony at Harbour House in Bristol on September 15. To kickstart the night, a relaxed drinks reception saw the creatives and artisans behind the South West indie-hospitality scene slurp oysters with traditional accompaniments and sip a range of locally crafted drinks including Pebblebed Sparkling Brut, grapefruit soda highballs with Witchmark Single Origin English Vodka, plus a selection of Lost and Grounded beers.
Winners were then announced in between delicious dishes cooked by the Harbour House team, led by head chef Altin Ndoja. The night’s menu included starters of house-made focaccia with smoked anchovy tapenade and cured monkfish with hung yoghurt, pickled ginger, orange and dill dressing followed by mains of slow-cooked beef cheeks with potato gratin and seasonal greens. Wrapping up the feast was a classic custard tart with marinated figs and pistachio crumb. Top notch ingredients were supplied by Dole, Harvey & Brockless and Wing of St. Mawes. Fine wines and drinks were supplied by Counter Culture Kombucha, Double Dutch, Lost and Grounded, Radical Roasters, Tolchards, Pebblebed Vineyards and Witchmark Distillery.
Read on to find out who you made this year’s winners, and scroll to the bottom for a sneak peek of what went down at the event.
The Food Lifestyle Awards 2025 finalists:
Chef of the year – sponsored by Harvey & Brockless
Winner: Margot Henderson, The Three Horseshoes
Finalists: Adam Glover, The Woolpack; Ben Champkin, Catch at the Old Fish Market; Carla Jones, The Idle Rocks; Richard Townsend, The Queen’s Arms
Restaurant of the year – sponsored by Lost and Grounded
Winner: Pythouse Kitchen Garden, Tisbury
Finalists: Da Costa, Bruton; Gather, Totnes; Marmo, Bristol; Ogo, Bedruthan
Pub of the year – sponsored by Witchmark
Winner: The Ilchester Arms, Symondsbury
Finalists: Sign of the Angel, Lacock; The Acorn Inn, Evershot; The Mariners, Rock; The Three Horseshoes, Batcombe
Hotel of the year – sponsored by Dole
Winner: Priory Wareham, Wareham
Finalists: Carbis Bay Estate, St Ives; Gara Rock, near Salcombe; Homewood, near Bath; The Painswick, Stroud
Casual dining experience – sponsored by Tolchards
Winner: Horrell & Horrell, Sparkford
Finalists: Lilac Bakery, Exeter; Outside, Bantham; The Fish Shed, St Ives; The Lost Kitchen, Chettiscombe
Exceptional spa experience – sponsored by Harbour House
Winner: St Michaels Resort, Falmouth
Finalists: Bristol Lido, Bristol; Darts Farm, Topsham; The Saltwater Sauna, Dorset; Whatley Manor, Malmesbury
Cool place to stay – sponsored by Wing of St Mawes
Winner: The Pig near Bath
Finalists: 8 Holland Street, Bath; Beach Retreats, across Cornwall; Hinton Hideaways, Crewkerne; Osip, Bruton
Drink brand of the year – sponsored by Indy Coffee Guide
Winner: Bar Buoy Cocktails, Exmouth
Finalists: Pilton Cider, Shepton Mallet; Rull Orchard, Exeter; Sprigster, Tisbury; Tribute by St Austell Brewery
Food brand of the year
Winner: Newlyn Fermentary
Finalists: Brickell’s Ice Cream, Shepton Mallet; ChalkStream Trout, Hampshire; Westcombe Dairy, Evercreech; Yeo Valley Organic, Bristol
Outstanding retail experience
Winner: Farro Bakery, Bristol
Finalists: Folk Interiors, Totnes; Hartley Farm Shop and Kitchen, Bradford-on-Avon; Landrace Bakery, Bath; Trevaskis Farm, Hayle
