Best Lincolnshire food and drink businesses honoured at awards

Three Lincoln businesses are celebrating after being recognised as top of their class at the ‘Taste of Excellence’ Food and Drink Awards, held at the Oaklands Hall Hotel.

The 18th annual awards on November 12 celebrated the elite providers of food and drink businesses across the county.

Nominations were accepted over five months from the public for their favourite eateries and hospitality venues.

Bunty’s Tea Room in Lincoln won the Lincolnshire Tearoom/Coffee Shop of the Year award and The Reform at The Castle Hotel in the city was proud to be awarded Lincolnshire Restaurant of the Year.

Washingborough Hall Hotel, near Lincoln, also walked away with Lincolnshire Wedding Venue of the Year.

This year, a special Long Service Award was made to Malcolm Waller of Washingborough Hall Hotel, who has worked at the business for nearly 37 years.

Owners Lucy and Edward Herring, wanted to show their appreciation for “all the invaluable support and knowledge Malcolm has given them during their seven years of ownership, for which they are eternally grateful.”

Paul Catlow, owner of The Castle Hotel and winner of Lincolnshire Restaurant of the Year, said: “We are delighted and honoured to have received the award. It’s the third time we have been nominated in the top three and the second time that we’ve won.

“It just shows consistency. We strive to deliver what customers want and the best recognition is happy customers. It is recognition of a complete team effort from everyone in the kitchen and front of house.”

Matt Felgate and Jenny Lock, Co-owners of Bunty’s Tearooms, said: “We were delighted to win Lincolnshire Tearoom of the Year, there was some stiff competition. It was nice to get recognition in our industry and we hope that we can continue to make the county proud, as well as our customers. It’s big year for us and we have some big news coming soon.”

Winners at the awards also included:

Lincolnshire Young Chef of the Year

• Winner: Tom Kerridge, Grimsby College
• Finalist: Brandon Moody, Grantham College

Lincolnshire New Business of the Year

• Winner: Boston Sausage at Abbey Parks, East Heckington
• Finalist: Woodhall Spa Manor, Woodhall Spa
• Finalist: Ingoldmells Holidays, Ingoldmells

Most Innovative Lincolnshire Product of the Year

• Winner: The Dip Society, Wold Newton
• Finalist: Batemans Brewery for Law of the Land, Wainfleet
• Finalist: Percy’s Iced Vodka Tea, Boston

Lincolnshire Wedding Venue of the Year

• Winner: Washingborough Hall Hotel, Washingborough
• Finalist: Hemswell Court, Hemswell Cliff
• Finalist: Stoke Rochford Hall, Stoke Rochford

Lincolnshire Accommodation of the Year

• Winner: Elms Farm Cottages, Hubberts Bridge
• Finalist: Caxton House, Skegness
• Finalist: White Hart, Lincoln

Lincolnshire Farm Shop of the Year

• Winner: Manor Farm Shop, Swineshead
• Finalist: Minting Park Farm, Gautby
• Finalist: Abbey Parks, East Heckington

Lincolnshire Tearoom/Coffee Shop of the Year

• Winner: Bunty’s Tearoom, Lincoln
• Finalist: Sylv’s, Heckington
• Finalist: The Old Pottery, Wrangle

Lincolnshire Pub of the Year

• Winner – The Blue Bell, Belchford
• Finalist: The Sebastopol, Minting
• Finalist: The Queen’s Head, Kirkby La Thorpe

Lincolnshire Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by House of Townend

• Winner: The Reform at The Castle Hotel, Lincoln
• Finalist: The Comfy Duck at Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby
• Finalist: The Black Swan, Beckingham

Lincolnshire Chef of the Year – sponsored by Freshtime

• Winner: Rosie Dicker of The Livesey Arms, Ludborough
• Finalist: Adrian Roj, ISS Defence RAF College Cranwell
• Finalist: John Clark, Queen’s head, Kirkby La Thorpe
• Finalist: Nick Reed, Sebastopol Inn, Minting
• Finalist: Marc Harvey, Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby