Finalists announced for the inaugural Advertiser & Times Food & Drink Awards, sponsored by Harvest Fine Foods
THE Advertiser & Times is delighted to announce the finalists for its first-ever food and drink awards.
Shining a spotlight on the incredible achievements of the best in the industry across the New Forest and Christchurch, the winners will be announced at a special ceremony next month.
We’ve teamed up with headline sponsor Harvest Fine Foods, a Totton-based leading supplier of quality ambient, fresh, frozen and chilled produce, as well as a comprehensive range of non-food items.
Three finalists have been shortlisted in each of the 12 categories after receiving the most nominations.
The winners will be chosen by a panel of independent industry experts, and announced at a glittering black tie event at The Balmer Lawn Hotel in Brockenhurst on Tuesday 25th March.
THE FINALISTS
Restaurant of the Year
- The Elderflower, Lymington
- The Cliff House, Barton
- Colin Nash Restaurant, The Retreat, Hinton
Chef of the Year
- Colin Nash (The Retreat, Hinton)
- David Wykes (Verveine, Milford)
- Alex Aitken (The Jetty, Christchurch)
Pub/Bar of the Year
- Huddle, Lymington
- Smugglers Inn, Milford
- The Three Tuns, Bransgore
Farm Shop/Deli of the Year
- Ellie's Farm Shop, Christchurch
- Setley Ridge Farm Shop, Brockenhurst
- Danestream Farm Shop, New Milton
Street Food/Pop-up of the Year
- Lymington Smoke and Fire BBQ
- The Super Brothers Catering Pizza and Events, New Milton
- Black Butter Social Dining, Lymington
Tearoom/Coffee Shop of the Year
- Sammy's Café, Milford
- Cafe Mallard, New Milton
- Esme's Tea Rooms, Brockenhurst
Beverage Producer of the Year
- Miners Cider, Hordle
- 820 Spirits, Lymington
- New Forest Tea Company
Food Producer of the Year – sponsored by Chewton Glen
- The Cocoa Trading Co., Barton
- New Forest Ice Cream, Lymington
- Ewelina's Home Pantry, Sway
Hotel of the Year
- Christchurch Harbour Hotel
- Rhinefield House Hotel, Brockenhurst
- The Montagu Arms, Beaulieu
Hospitality Hero – sponsored by Whitehead Ross
- Little Pebbles, Barton
- Sammy's Café, Milford
- Enzee, Brockenhurst
Sustainability Hero – sponsored by Diamond & Son
- Bat & Ball, Breamore
- Naked Jam, Hordle
- New Forest Fish and Shellfish, New Milton
Food & Drink Hero
- Christchurch Support Kabin
- Andrew and Sarah Parry-Norton of The Commoners Larder, Cadnam
- Cookies’ Corner Sandwich Shop, New Milton
A&T deputy editor Liz Hendrie has seen first-hand the drive, passion and exceptional talent of those behind the huge success of the industry.
“Those in hospitality are among the hardest workers I’ve known,” she said. “They put in long, anti-social hours, in stressful and high-pressure environments that are constantly shifting to meet ever-changing customer expectations.
“Always pushing boundaries to deliver the best experience they can, hospitality workers do much more than simply put food and drink on the table – they keep communities connected and thriving, often at the busiest and most hectic times of the year.
“So these awards, in celebrating some outstanding achievements and recognising culinary excellence, cannot come soon enough.”
A spokesperson for Harvest said: “As proud headline sponsors of the A&T Food and Drink Awards, Harvest Fine Foods is deeply committed to supporting local businesses and the vibrant food community.
“Our partnership reinforces Harvest Fine Foods’ dedication to promoting local talent and ensuring that the stories of regional producers are shared and celebrated on a larger stage.
“At Harvest we are proud to work with some of the finest local growers and producers, from small specialists to award-winning farms and market gardeners. We stock a wide range of fresh and ambient products from Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, and the Isle of Wight.”
Harvest promotes a raft of advantages for eating local produce:
• Locally grown crops are harvested at their peak, often arriving at the market within 24 hours of picking. So, you can be sure you are getting the freshest produce from farm to table in 24 hours.
• Buying local helps Harvest support its local growers and the community.
• Collaborating with Harvest’s producers and learning more about the origin of food and the production methods used by the farmers.
For more information visit iliffemediapromotions.co.uk/new-milton-food-drink-awards
