Hospitality businesses across the New Forest and Christchurch crowned at the Advertiser & Times Food and Drink Awards held at The Balmer Lawn Hotel in Brockenhurst
Big names and lesser-known faces in the hospitality industry got their chance to shine at the A&T’s inaugural and much-anticipated food and drink awards.
Winners were announced at a black tie ceremony held at The Balmer Lawn Hotel in Brockenhurst yesterday (Tuesday), taking top honours across 12 categories including Restaurant of the Year, Hotel of the Year and Food & Drink Hero.
The awards were launched to shine a spotlight on the incredible achievements of the best in the industry across the New Forest and Christchurch.
Headline sponsor was 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.
Other sponsors included the New Forest Fruit Company, Clive Emson auctioneers, New Forest Marque, Whitehead Ross Education, Diamond & Sons Funeral Directors, Chewton Glen Hotel, and health and safety consultants DDS International, and the Balmer Lawn Hotel.
Colin Nash, whose eatery at The Retreat in Christchurch was named Restaurant of the Year, told the A&T he was “gobsmacked” to have secured the honour, considering the stiff competition.
“This win is so great for my team, who all work so hard,” he said. “It will give them a boost and drive them forward.
“There were some fantastic restaurants in this category, and across the area generally, so I feel very honoured, and very lucky, to have won this award.”
Jen Williams, of Sway-based Naked Jam, who secured the Sustainability Hero accolade, said it was “fabulous to win an award in an area I’m really passionate about”.
“I have an environmental degree, and the issue was close to my mother’s heart, so winning this award was important to me,” she said. “We have a no bin policy – we reuse before we recycle. I also promote more sustainable choices when it comes to eating meat by helping out at the game cookery school at the New Forest Show.”
Tom Simpson, of 820 Spirits at Shallowmead in Boldre, which was named Beverage Producer of the Year, said: “It’s brilliant to be recognised in this way – the hard work has paid off.
“We’re supplying between 45 and 50 establishments in the Forest now, including The Colin Nash Restaurant.”
Tom also scooped the Young Person in Business award in the New Forest Brilliance in Business Awards in 2023, and took gold in the London Spirits Competition for his blackberry gin and vodka last year.
A&T deputy editor Liz Hendrie, who runs the regular Food & Drink page, said it was gratifying to see so many great hospitality businesses get the recognition they deserved.
“This was our way of giving back and showing appreciation for a sector that brings so much joy to our communities across the New Forest and Christchurch,” she said.
“There were a a fair few recognisable faces and big names there, and rightly so; but it was great to see the profile being raised of some smaller, lesser known businesses.
“There was lots of talk about how tough times are in the industry, so awards like these are so important to give these hardworking teams and individuals a boost.
“Huge congratulations to our winners and, of course, our runners up – I’m extremely glad I was spared the task of being a judge, because I would have found it extremely hard to single one business out above the rest.”
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RESULTS:
Street food / Pop-up of the Year
Winner: Lymington Smoke and Fire BBQ
Runners up: Black Butter Social Dining, The Super Brothers Catering Pizza and Events
Farm Shop / Deli of the Year
Winner: Danestream Farm Shop
Runners up: Ellie’s Farm Shop, Setley Ridge Farm Shop
Tearoom / Coffee Shop of the Year
Winner: Esme’s Tearooms
Runners up: Cafe Mallard, Sammy’s Cafe
Pub / Bar of the Year
Winner: The Three Tuns
Runners up: Huddle, The Smugglers Inn
Beverage Producer of the Year
Winner: 820 Spirits
Runners up: Miners Cider, New Forest Tea Company
Food Producer of the Year
Winner: New Forest Ice Cream
Runners up: Cocoa Trading Company, Ewelina’s Home Pantry
Hospitality Hero
Winner: Enzee Restaurant
Runners up: Little Pebbles, Sammy’s Cafe
Sustainability Hero
Winner: Naked Jam
Runners up: Bat and Ball Pub, New Forest Fish and Shellfish
Food & Drink Hero
Winner: Christchurch Support Kabin
Runners up: Cookie’s Corner Sandwich Shop, The Commoners Larder
Hotel of the Year
Winner: Rhinefield House Hotel
Runners up: Christchurch Harbour Hotel, The Montagu Arms
Retaurant of the Year
Winner: Colin Nash Restaurant
Runners up: Elderflower, Cliff House
Chef of the Year
Winner: David Wykes (Verveine)
Runners up: Alex Aitken (Jetty), Colin Nash (The Colin Nash Restaurant)
