Following a record 80,000 nominations and votes, the Food Reader Awards 2022 grand finalists have been revealed

For almost a decade, the Food Reader Awards have championed the South West’s independent food and drink businesses. And, after a pandemic-induced hiatus, they’re back for 2022.

This year, over 10,000 readers showed their support for their favourite chefs, restaurants, pubs, cafes, producers, hotels, farm shops and more by voting for and nominating them in the Food Reader Awards.

The grand finalists will be invited to a ceremony at Winslade Manor near Exeter on June 27, where the winners will be revealed (don’t worry if you don’t have a ticket as we’ll be sharing the results live on social throughout the evening). Furthermore, Winslade Manor’s executive chef Matt Mason will craft a stunning four-course celebration dinner which will be matched with wines from Ellis Wines and craft beers from Sharp’s Brewery.

The Food Reader Awards 2022 grand finalists:

Best Chef – sponsored by Sharp’s Brewery

• Adam Handling – Ugly Butterfly
• Charlotte Vincent – The Five Bells Inn
• Harriet Mansell – Robin Wylde (read our interview with Harriet here)
• Ron Faulkner – Ronnie’s of Thornbury

Best Restaurant – sponsored by Total Produce

• Emily Scott Food, Cornwall
• New Yard Restaurant, Cornwall (read our review of New Yard Restaurant here)
• The Beckford Bottle Shop, Bath
• The Oyster & Fish House, Dorset

Best Hotel – sponsored by Ellis Wines

• Lympstone Manor, Devon
• The Newt, Somerset
• The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, Bath
• The Seaside Boarding House, Dorset

Best Cocktail Bar

• Bread & Jam, Bath (read our roundup of Bath cocktail bars here)
• HydeAway, Somerset
• Hyde & Co, Bristol
• The Bar at No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath

Best Cafe

• Electric Bakery, Cornwall
• Heron Farm, Devon
• The Bakehouse by Cakesmiths, Bristol
• Wayland’s Yard, Bristol

Best Dining Pub – sponsored by Frobishers

• St Kew Inn, Cornwall
• The Agricultural Inn, Devon
• The Bull Inn, Devon
• The Gurnard’s Head, Cornwall

Best Food Product

• Black Cow Deluxe Cheddar
• Cut to the Smoke Barbecue Rubs (read our Tried & Tested here)
• Rodda’s Clotted Cream
• Veg in a Box Family Support Box

Best Drink Product – sponsored by Wickhams

• Langham Blanc de Blancs
• Sandford Orchards Devon Red
• Sharp’s Doom Bar
• Sharpham Dart Valley Reserve

Best Indie Retailer

• Heart, Smoke & Soal, Devon
• Pareusi, Cornwall
• The Monmouth Pantry, Dorset
• Veg in a Box, Devon

Best Farm Shop

• Ben’s Farm Shop, Devon
• Flourish Farm Shop & Café, Bristol
• Teals, Somerset
• Tre, Pol & Pen, Cornwall

Best Cookery School

• Bristol Fire School, Bristol
• Devon Cookery School, Devon
• Philleigh Way Cookery School, Cornwall (read our Tried & Tested here)
• Wild Wine School, Cornwall

Best Newcomer

• Catch at the Old Fish Market, Dorset (read our interview with head chef Mike Naidoo here)
• Emily Scott Food, Cornwall
• Landrace Upstairs, Bath
• Stage, Devon

Sustainability Champion

• River Cottage, Devon
• Riverford Field Kitchen, Devon
• Trewithen Dairy, Cornwall
• Two Drifters Rum, Devon

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The Food Reader Awards 2022 are supported by Ellis Wines, Flying Fish Seafoods, Frobishers, Indy Coffee Box, Raw Food & Drink PR, Roastworks Coffee Co, Sharp’s Brewery, South West 660, The Devon Meat Box Co., Total Produce and Wickhams.