Food Reader Awards 2023

Following over 100,000 votes, the Food Reader Awards 2023 winners have been revealed!

For almost a decade, the Food Reader Awards have championed the South West’s best independent food and drink businesses. The Awards are an opportunity for readers to show their favourite indie venues and products some love – from local chefs to dining pubs to their fave English fizz.

Following tens of thousands of votes, the 2023 winners were revealed at a celebratory supper and awards ceremony at Nancarrow Farm in Cornwall on May 15. Head chef Jack Bristow and team prepared a phenomenal multi-course feast for the lucky finalists and industry insiders, which included rustic dishes such as wood-roasted dayboat fish with asparagus, roasted chicken aioli and gribiche, and whipped pannacotta (made with Rodda’s Cornish clotted cream) served with strawberry, elderflower and marigold. When accepting his award, Jack Stein said it was ‘the best food I’ve ever eaten at an awards ceremony’.

Browse pictures from the event and meet your winners below.

Food Reader Awards 2023 winners

Best Chef – sponsored by Salt Media

Winner: Jack Stein – Rick Stein Restaurants

Finalists: Andrew Tuck, St Kew Inn; Ayesha Kalaji, Queen of Cups; Elly Wentworth, The Angel – Taste of Devon

Best Restaurant – sponsored by Dole Foodservice

Winner: One Fish Street, St Ives

Finalists: Harbour House, Bristol; Osip, Bruton; Porthminster Beach Cafe, St Ives

Best Hotel – sponsored by The Eco Laundry

Winner: Bovey Castle, Dartmoor

Finalists: Artist Residence, Bristol; Carbis Bay Estate, St Ives; The Idle Rocks, St Mawes

Best Cocktail Bar – sponsored by RAW

Winner: The Library, Bristol

Finalists: Ci Ci’s, Padstow; No.15 by GuestHouse Hotels, Bath; Seven, St Ives

Best Cafe – sponsored by Indy Coffee Guide

Winner: The Whole Hog Lyme Bay, Lyme Regis

Finalists: Albatross Cafe, Bristol; Bread & Butter, Truro; Soulshine, Bridport

Best Dining Pub – sponsored by Luscombe Drinks

Winner: The Cornish Arms, Tavistock

Finalists: Eversfield Organic Dartmoor Inn, Merrivale; The Rising Sun, Truro; The Talbot Inn, Mells

Best Food Product

Winner: Bath Soft Cheese

Finalists: Philip Warren Butchers beef; Trewithen Dairy Salted Butter; Yumello Salted Date Peanut Butter

Best Drink Product – sponsored by Great British Gourmet Experiences

Winner: Sandford Orchards Devon Red

Finalists: Bride Valley Dorset Crémant; Devon Rum Co. Premium Golden Rum; Verdant Lightbulb Extra Pale Ale

Best Indie Retailer – sponsored by Enotria & Coe

Winner: The Beckford Bottle Shop, Bath

Finalists: Chandos Deli, Bristol; Dorset Meat Company; Fee’s Food, Rock

Best Farm Shop – sponsored by Pebblebed Vineyard

Winner: St Kew Farm Shop & Cafe, Cornwall

Finalists: Bird & Carter, Salisbury; Boscastle Farm Shop, Cornwall; Millers Farm Shop, Axminster

Best Cookery School – sponsored by Rodda’s

Winner: Ashburton Cookery School, Devon

Finalists: Glebe House, Devon; High Grange, Axminster; Rick Stein’s Cookery School, Cornwall

Best Newcomer – sponsored by Knightor Winery

Winners: Crocadon, St Mellion and The Farm Table at Darts Farm, Topsham

Finalists: COR, Bristol; Emilia, Ashburton

Sustainability Champion – sponsored by Nancarrow Farm

Winner: Scarlet Hotel, Cornwall

Finalists: Catch at the Old Fish Market, Dorset; Riverford Organic Farmers, Devon; The Holcombe, Somerset

Images by Guy Harrop

Find out who scooped top honours at the Food Reader Awards 2022 here.