After a record number of reader votes, we’re thrilled to reveal the Food Reader Awards 2019 winners …

You South West foodies certainly know your onions – and your top chefs, local restaurants and foodie pubs.  After thousands of reader nominations and a cracking awards night at The Greenbank Hotel in Falmouth, we’re super excited to share your 2019 winners.

Food Reader Awards 2019 winners

Best Chef – sponsored by Sharp’s Brewery

Winner: Dave Jenkins – Rock Salt Cafe (Plymouth)
Grand finalists: Ashley Wright – The Horn of Plenty (Gulworthy); Claire Moore – The Station Kitchen (West Bay); Dan Moon – The Gainsborough Bath Spa

Best Restaurant – sponsored by Total Produce

Winner: Porthminster Beach Cafe, St Ives
Grand finalists: Bellita – Bristol; Brassica Restaurant – Beaminster; Harry’s Restaurant – Exeter

Best Foodie Hotel – sponsored by Trencherman’s Guide

Winner: Lympstone Manor – Exmouth
Grand finalists: Mount Haven Hotel – Marazion; St Michaels Resort – Falmouth; Ston Easton Park Hotel – Bath

Best Cocktail Bar – sponsored by The Wrecking Coast Distillery

Winner: Crocketts – Exeter
Grand finalists: The Milk Thistle – Bristol; The Old Grammar School – Truro; Tigermilk at The Duke – Plymouth

Best Cafe – sponsored by Frobishers

Winner: Mokoko – Bristol
Grand finalists: Soulshine – Bridport; The Almond Thief – Dartington; The Hidden Hut – Porthcurnick

Best Foodie Pub – sponsored by L George Butchers

Winner: The Rising Sun – Truro
Grand finalists: Bear Bar & Kitchen – St Agnes; The Bear and Blacksmith – Chillington; The Cadeleigh Arms – Tiverton

Best Drink – sponsored by Dartington Crystal 

Winner: Wrecking Coast Gin
Grand finalists: Conker Spirit Dorset Dry Gin; Salcombe Gin; Wicked Wolf Gin

Best Foodie Product – sponsored by Impact 

Winner: Baker Tom’s Bread sourdough
Grand finalists: Dorset Sea Salt; Purbeck Ice Cream; Extract Coffee Roasters Unkle Funka

Best Indie Retailer – sponsored by Salt Media

Winner: Chococo – Exeter
Grand finalists: Ashburton Delicatessen – Devon; The Cornish Food Box Company – Truro; The Bristol Cheesemonger

Best Cookery School – sponsored by Greenbank Hotel

Winner: Ashburton Cookery School – Devon
Grand finalists: Lucknam Park Cookery School – Wiltshire; Manna from Devon Cookery School – Kingswear; River Cottage Cookery School – Axminster

Best Wine List – sponsored by Enotria & Coe

Winner: The Longstore – Charlestown
Grand finalists: La Cave – Falmouth; The Olive Tree – Bath; Woods Bar & Restaurant – Dulverton

Best Farm Shop – sponsored by Soil Association

Winner: Trevaskis Farm Shop – Cornwall
Grand finalists: Ben’s Farm Shop – Totnes; Greendale Farm Shop – Farringdon; Jon Thorners Farm Shop – Shepton Mallet

These fabulous awards wouldn’t be possible without our fantastic sponsors. Big love to Sharp’s Brewery, Total Produce, Trencherman’s Guide, The Wrecking Coast Distillery, Frobishers, L George Butchers, Dartington Crystal, Impact, Salt Media, Greenbank Hotel, Enotria & Coe, and Soil Association. 

Food Reader Awards 2018 winners …

Best Chef – sponsored by Sharp’s Brewery

Winner: Michael Caines – Lympstone Manor Grand finalists: Steve Pidgeon – Arundell Arms Hotel, Nathan Outlaw – Restaurant Nathan Outlaw

Best Restaurant – sponsored by Total Produce

Winner: Oliver’s – Falmouth Grand finalists: The Square – Porthleven, Olive Tree Restaurant – Bath

Best Foodie Hotel – sponsored by Enotria & Coe

Winner: Arundell Arms Hotel – Lifton Grand finalists: Soar Mill Cove Hotel – Devon, The Scarlet – Mawgan Porth

Best Cocktail Bar – sponsored by Wrecking Coast Gin

Winner: Dr Ink’s Curiosities – Exeter Grand finalists: North Coast Wine Co – Bude, The Dark Horse – Bath

Best Cafe – sponsored by Frobishers

Winner: Gylly Beach Cafe – Falmouth Grand finalists: Block – Barnstaple, Society Cafe – Bath

Best Foodie Pub – sponsored by Flying Fish Seafoods and  Philip Warren

Winner: The Star & Garter, Falmouth Grand finalists: The Methuen Arms – Corsham, The Rising Sun – Truro

Best Drink – sponsored by Impact

Winner: Black Cow Vodka Grand finalists: Wrecking Coast Clotted Cream Gin, Salcombe Gin

Best Foodie Product – sponsored by Michelmores

Winner: Cornish Gouda Co Gouda Grand finalists: Primrose Herd Cornish Hogs Pudding, Eat The Smoke Rubs

Best Indie Retailer – sponsored by Salt Media

Winner: Riverford Organic, Buckfastleigh Grand finalists: Fillet & Bone – Chipping Campden, Johns of Instow – north Devon

Best Cookery School – sponsored by Fifteen Cornwall

Winner: Exeter Cookery School – Devon Grand finalists: Rick Stein’s Cookery School – Padstow,  Ashburton Cookery School – Devon

Best Wine List – sponsored by Trencherman’s Guide

Winner: Gidleigh Park – Chagford Grand finalists: The Idle Rocks -St Mawes, Ben’s Wine & Tapas – Totnes

Best Farm Shop – sponsored by Rodda’s

Winner: Darts Farm – Topsham Grand finalists: Greendale Farm Shop – Woodbury, Daylesford – Moreton-in-Marsh