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