So Cheshire partner feature
At a glittering award ceremony at the Pavilion at Chester Racecourse, over 350 people from the hospitality industry gathered to find out who had won the annual Taste Cheshire Awards on Wednesday 4th April.
Over 40,000 votes were cast by customers of venues right across Cheshire, which saw a short list in each category mystery dined and shopped by industry experts to determine the gold, silver and bronze medal winners.
Taste Cheshire general manager, Briony Wilson said: “It was one of the best events we have ever put on. The industry gets so little time to get together and celebrate what an amazing job they all do representing Cheshire to the millions of visitors we have to the county every year.
“All of our nominees have had a wonderful 2017 and our various winners at each level have excelled at the very top of their game. It is a privilege for us to be able to celebrate their achievements with them.”
The event was hosted by Gavin Matthews, with Horseradish Catering providing a meal for perhaps the toughest ‘gig’ of the year, feeding their peers.
Taste Cheshire owner Stephen Wundke was delighted with the event, as he explained: “Our annual awards have been running now for 18 years and by staging these just after the Food and Drink Festival we bring a huge focus across the UK on to Cheshire and its food and drink industry.
“This was a superb night and we are already planning for how we can introduce more categories for 2019 to encourage even more people in to the industry.”
Winners in each category are as follows:
Local Produce Shop of the Year
Bronze Award – Cheerbrook Farm Shop, Nantwich
Silver Award – Claremont Farm, Wirral
Gold Award – The Hollies Farm Shop, Tarporley
2018 Festival Sausage Competition
Plain Pork Sausage Winner – Cheerbrook Farm Shop, Nantwich
Flavoured Sausage winner – Muffs of Bromborough
Family Friendly Venue of the Year
Bronze Award – The Lambing Shed, Knutsford
Silver Award – Cholmondeley Arms, Malpas
Gold Award – The Fishpool Inn, Northwich
Best Use of Local Produce in A Menu
Bronze Award – The Cheshire Dinning Experience
Silver Award – George and Dragon, Holmes Chapel
Gold Award – The Chesterfields, Chester
Best Sandwich Shop
Bronze Award – The Cheshire Sandwich Company, Chester
Silver Award – Meltdown, Chester
Gold Award – Bloom, Nantwich
Best Newcomer
Bronze Award – Tap and Pantry, The Stanneylands
Silver Award – Meltdown, Chester
Gold Award – Deadwood Smokehouse, Nantwich
Best Deli
Bronze Award – Monks Delicatessen, Runcorn
Silver Award – Whitmore and White, West Kirby
Gold Award – Deli Fine, Holt
Best Cafe
Bronze Award – Benty Farm Tea Rooms, Wirral
Silver Award – Little Yellow Pig, Hoole
Gold Award – Jaunty Goat, Chester
Best Bar
Bronze Award – Barlounge, Chester
Silver Award – The Suburbs, Hoole
Gold Award – Little Tap, Tarporley
Best Pub
Bronze Award – Ring O’ Bells, Christleton
Silver Award – The Chesterfields, Chester
Gold Award – The Pheasant Inn, Chester
Excellence in Customer Care
Bronze Award – George and Dragon, Holmes Chapel
Silver Award – Urbano32, Chester
Gold Award – Little Tap, Tarporley
Best Small Restaurant
Bronze Award – Upstairs at the Grill, Chester
Silver Award – Sticky Walnut, Chester
Gold Award – The Chefs Table, Chester
Best Large Restaurant
Bronze Award – The Chester Fields, Chester
Silver Award – Opera Grill, Chester
Gold Award – Olive Tree Brasserie, Chester
Outstanding Achievement Award
Winner – Ed Cowap, The Hollies Farm Shop
