2023 was a year of celebration and recognition in Lincolnshire, as Stonebow Media, publishers of The Lincolnite and MyLocal, brought thousands of the county’s brightest minds together for a series of awards ceremonies, honouring the tireless work across many business sectors in the last 12 months.
Just how do you fit seven awards ceremonies, each with hundreds of nominees to choose from, and a charity quiz event with 150 attendees, in the same year? Well, when it comes to celebrating the brilliance on display across Lincolnshire, the sky’s the limit for us here at The Lincolnite and MyLocal, so we pulled out all the stops to recognise the fantastic efforts of each and everyone in our local area.
The 2023 awards season was completed in style on Thursday night, as the Lincolnshire Enterprise Awards, organised by The Lincolnite and MyLocal, brought together hundreds of the most innovative minds and businesses for an evening of celebration and recognition.
Lincoln’s Engine Shed again played host to a fabulous evening of awards on Thursday, December 7, with over 300 people in attendance for a Barbie/Christmas-themed event that celebrated the shining lights in our county’s enterprise sector, and encouraged guests to rock their best pink or Christmassy attire.
A total of 12 awards were given to worthy winners across a range of categories, from tech start-ups to inspiring entrepreneurs, and standout apprentices to businesses displaying admirable growth and ambition.
Over 300 people were in attendance for the awards. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Our host for the evening — Kamal Ellis-Hyman. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The evening was compared by motivational speaker Kamal Ellis-Hyman, the founder of Aim A Little Higher, which seeks to prepare young people for the life of work. He brought his typical charisma and energy to hosting duties, keeping the audience engaged and entertained throughout.
Awards were handed out between a delicious three-course meal, courtesy of award-winning caterers Salted Orange, who served a seasonal, festive menu of a beetroot soup starter, a turkey dinner for main, and a plum dumpling for dessert.
A seasonal beetroot soup starter. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
In the true spirit of Christmas, it had to be a turkey dinner for main. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Curious Theatre School performed a medley of Christmas hits to get people in the spirit, while the decorative photo area had santa hats and wrapped present designs to provide the backdrop for pictures.
There was also a fun and interactive game of heads or tails with a festive twist, with audience members invited to guess either Rudolph’s nose or tail on the coin toss. Finalists for the game were brought onto the stage for a showdown, with the winner receiving a bottle of champagne.
A festive medley by the Curious Theatre School. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Louis Jones of Surprise Shirts was the winner of our festive heads or tails game, which proved a big hit with everyone in attendance. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Lincolnshire Enterprise Awards was The Lincolnite and MyLocal‘s seventh ceremony of 2023 to recognise the excellence of our county, following the success of the Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards, the Lincolnshire Health & Beauty Excellence Awards, the Lincolnshire Education Excellence Awards, the Destination Lincolnshire Tourism Awards, the Lincolnshire Food & Farming Excellence Awards, and the Lincolnshire 30 Under 30 — all of which took place earlier this year.
Katrina Burrill, Director of Stonebow Media and MyLocal, remarked, “The Lincolnshire Enterprise Awards this year were a high point of a busy year, supporting local businesses across our county. We have welcomed thousands of guests, looked over even more applications, and celebrated with over 400 bottles of Prosecco. These celebrations were a big part of our year.
“All of this wouldn’t have been possible without the help of our sponsors and partners. Their support was key to making these events a success. I want to say a big thank you to all of them for their help and support.
“Whilst our awards season might be over for 2023, we’re not stopping there. We’re now starting nominations for the Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards. Thank you to everyone involved this year. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Biff Bean. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Events like this are only possible thanks to the support and contributions of amazing sponsors, so we give thanks to Lincoln Science & Innovation Park, Streets Chartered Accountants, Duncan & Toplis, Fizzco, Streets Heaver, Regus, Visual Print & Design, The University of Lincoln Research & Enterprise, Lincoln Be Smarter, and Pals Battalion CIC.
Below is a list of all the finalists and winners at the 2023 Lincolnshire Enterprise Awards, and you can read the full individual stories of all the winners on the MyLocal website or mobile app:
Hundreds of Lincolnshire’s finest examples of dining and agriculture were brought together for the Lincolnshire Food & Farming Excellence Awards 2023, organised by MyLocal Lincolnshire, The Lincolnite and its publisher Stonebow Media.
More than 200 people gathered at The Engine Shed in Lincoln on Friday, November 17 to recognise and commemorate the tireless work of Lincolnshire’s agricultural experts and fine dining maestros over the last 12 months.
A total of 12 awards were handed out across a number of categories in the food and farming industry, varying from food and drink producers to restaurants and farm shops, as well as the eagerly anticipated Lincolnshire Chef of the Year. You can watch our video of the Chef of the Year competition on the MyLocal Play tab, either on your mobile app or the dedicated website.
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The event began with a Prosecco reception and a live performance from the Curious Theatre School, before our host for the evening — local radio royalty John Marshall — took to the stage on compare duties.
Awards were handed out between a delicious, locally-sourced three-course meal by award-winning caterers Salted Orange. For starter it was a seasonal leek and potato soup with chives and crisp onion, while the main course options were Revesby Estate venison pie with baby onions and colcannon potato, or a vegetable pot pie with champ potatoes.
For dessert, it was apple tarte tatin with vanilla ice cream, and after meals and awards were finished, the disco commenced!
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Katrina Burrill, Director at Stonebow Media, said: “Congratulations to each of the winners and finalists at the Lincolnshire Food & Farming Awards!
“Friday night was not just a celebration, but a showcase of the fantastic produce that Lincolnshire is renowned for.
“I, along with my colleagues at Stonebow Media and MyLocal, feel a deep sense of pride in supporting the businesses that bring Lincolnshire’s exceptional agricultural and culinary heritage to the forefront.
“The dedication to quality and sustainability evident in our local produce is truly inspiring.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to the sponsors for their unwavering support. Your commitment plays a crucial role in highlighting and honouring the excellence of Lincolnshire’s food and farming sector.
“We are already looking forward to next year’s event, where we can once again celebrate the extraordinary produce and the people behind Lincolnshire’s esteemed food and farming sector.”
Our thanks go out to the sponsors of this event, without your support these ceremonies and celebrations cannot be possible. The sponsors for the Lincolnshire Food & Farming Excellence Awards 2023 were Barclays Eagle Labs, Duncan & Toplis, Masons, Visual Print & Design, Fizzco Projects, Sills & Betteridge and the event organisers, Stonebow Media & The Lincolnite.
Below is a full list of the finalists and winners for their respective categories, and you can dive deeper into the stories of each individual winner on our MyLocal app or website.
Food Producer of the Year
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Alfred Enderby– Winner 2023
Cogglesford Watermill
Madz for cake
The Uplift Grazing
Drinks Producer of the Year
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Alvingham Coffee Roasters
Louth Distillery
Pheasantry Farms & Brewery
Seven Districts Coffee
Tipplemill Distillery– Winner 2023
Street Food / Takeaway of the Year
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Hungry Plaice
Mockingbird Street Food – Winner 2023
Roco BBQ
Slow Rise
Twisted
Farming Innovation Business of the Year
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Lincolnshire Farm schools
LJ Fairburn – Winner 2023
Noble Foods
Petsville Farm CIC
Stourton Estates Ltd
Sustainable Business of the Year
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
JRH Water Management
Hill Holt Wood
Lincolnshire Pork Co – Winner 2023
Mint Lane Cafe
Saga Robotics / Thorvald
Farm Shop / Market of the Year
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Fishers farm shop
Fulbeck Craft Centre
Holmes farm
Silver Apple Showroom
Vine House Farm – – Winner 2023
Restaurant of the Year
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Bottle & Glass Harby
Julianos Italian Restaurant Grantham
Lawsons Lincoln
San Pietro Restaurant Scunthorpe Winner 2023
The Tower Hotel / No.THIRTY8 Lincoln
Washingborough Hall Hotel
Pub / Bistro Food of the Year
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Bistro Bar and Kitchen
The Pig & Whistle at Healing Manor
The Plough, North Kyme – Winner 2023
The Queens Head Bar and Restaurant, Kirkby-la-Thorpe
The Sycamore, Lincoln
Bar / Pub of the Year (Wet Sales)
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Cognito Lincoln
Lincoln Jazz Café – Winner 2023
The Queens Head Bar and Restaurant
Vice & Co Lincoln
Cafe of the Year
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Colbournes’ Cafe Saxilby/Lincoln – Winner 2023
Little Lincoln
Monks Road Cafe Lincoln
Tasty Toast
The Oaks Lincoln
Future of Farming
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Billy Billings, G Lowry
Lizzy Wells, Riseholme Park Farm
Middle World Farms
Riley Taylor, R G Taylor & Sons – Winner 2023
Farm to Fork
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Gelston Lamb – Winner 2023
Lincolnshire Pork Co
Salted Orange
Uncle Henrys
W H Munton & Son – Mill Farm
Chef of the Year
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Barry Liversidge, The Queens Head Bar and Restaurant– Winner 2023
