Food Reader Awards 2022

Following almost 100,000 nominations and votes, the Food Reader Awards 2022 winners have been revealed

For almost a decade, the Food Reader Awards have championed the South West’s best independent food and drink businesses. This year, over 10,000 readers showed their support for their favourite chefs, restaurants, pubs, cafes, producers, hotels, farm shops and more.

The grand finalists were invited to a ceremony at Winslade Manor near Exeter on June 27 where the winners were revealed. Food Magazine editor Kathryn Lewis and Salt Media editorial director Jo Rees hosted the event, which featured a stunning four-course feast from Winslade Manor chef director Matt Mason. Each course was matched with wines from Ellis Wines and craft beers from Sharp’s Brewery.

Meet this year’s winners below and scroll to the bottom of the page to see more pics from the evening.

The Food Reader Awards 2022 winners:

Best Chef – sponsored by Sharp’s Brewery

Winner: Harriet Mansell – Robin Wylde

Grand finalists:

• Adam Handling – Ugly Butterfly
• Charlotte Vincent
• Ron Faulkner – Ronnie’s of Thornbury

Best Restaurant – sponsored by Total Produce

Winner: The Beckford Bottle Shop, Bath

Grand finalists:

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

Best Hotel – sponsored by Ellis Wines

Winner: Lympstone Manor, Devon

Grand finalists:

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

Best Cocktail Bar – sponsored by RAW

Winner: HydeAway, Somerset

Grand finalists:

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

Best Cafe – sponsored by Roastworks

Winner: Electric Bakery, Cornwall

Grand finalists:

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

Best Dining Pub – sponsored by Frobishers

Winner: The Bull Inn, Devon

Grand finalists:

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

Best Food Product – sponsored by Salt Media

Winner: Rodda’s Clotted Cream

Grand finalists:

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

Best Drink Product – sponsored by Wickhams

Winner: Sharp’s Doom Bar

Grand finalists:

• Langham Blanc de Blancs
• Sandford Orchards Devon Red
• Sharpham Dart Valley Reserve

Best Indie Retailer – sponsored by Independent Coffee Guide

Winner: Veg in a Box, Devon

Grand finalists:

• Heart, Smoke & Soal, Devon
• Pareusi, Cornwall
• The Monmouth Pantry, Dorset

Best Farm Shop – sponsored by The Devon Meat Box Company

Winner: Teals, Somerset

Grand finalists:

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

Best Cookery School – sponsored by Flying Fish Seafoods

Winner: Devon Cookery School, Devon

Grand finalists:

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

Best Newcomer – sponsored by South West 660

Winner: Emily Scott Food, Cornwall

Grand finalists:

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

Sustainability Champion – sponsored by Blue Marble

Winner: Trewithen Dairy, Cornwall

Grand finalists:

• River Cottage, Devon
• Riverford Field Kitchen, Devon
• Two Drifters Rum, Devon

Images by Guy Harrop

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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.