Food and drink heroes from throughout the county have been recognised at the 2024 Cumbria Food Awards.
Held at Kendal College and hosted by TV presenter, chef and restaurateur Simon Rimmer, the independent awards took place in front of an audience of 155 finalists, sponsors, judges and special guests.
A rousing message from Simon began the evening, when he spoke about the challenges of running a hospitality business in 2024 amid ever rising costs.
He said despite this, he loves working in the sector, which is capable of producing the type of excellence found in Cumbria.
“I’m proud to be in our industry,” he said. “We care about it and we care about people and we care about our customers and we care about our suppliers. From me to you, thank you for being part of this magnificent industry.”
Guests also raised a toast to Hairy Biker and Cumbrian Dave Myers, the host of the first Cumbria Food Awards, who died earlier this month.
The guests at the third much-anticipated independent awards, held in association with Caterite, were welcomed to a drinks reception and canapés.
The gala dinner was cooked and served by 50 students at the college, under the guidance of the head of faculty, Richard Axford and his team.
One of two special awards, the Rising Star trophy was presented to former Kendal College student Kim Khaengrit, who now runs front-of-house operations at Doi Intanon restaurant in Ambleside, where his parents are chefs.
Simon told the audience that the running order of the awards had been changed to enable Kim to get back to finish service at the restaurant – demonstrating exactly the type of dedication for which he was being recognised.
The top award, for Outstanding Contribution was presented to the farmer, market trader and champion of Cumbrian food, Peter Gott, who was rewarded for his promotion of British products over decades and his unflagging work on campaigns such as protected European status for Traditional Cumberland Sausage.
Tribute videos for Peter from chef and TV presenter Phil Vickery, cheesemaker Graham Kirkham and food writer and critic Tom Parker Bowles were added to by Simon, who described him as a legend and hero.
There was a double triumph for Paul Leonard and his kitchen brigade at The Forest Side at Grasmere. Paul took home the award for Chef of the Year and the hotel was named Hotel Restaurant of the Year.
Rogan & Co at Cartmel was presented with the trophy for Restaurant of the Year.
The winner of the Café of the Year was Homeground in Windermere, where Rich Metcalfe’s team wowed the judges.
The Pub, Bar or Taproom of the Year trophy was taken home by Tom McMaster and Beki Bowles of The Drover’s Rest at Monkhill near Carlisle. It was the type of pub that every village should have, said the judges.
The independent awards, which are judged by a panel of 15 industry experts, are designed to recognise and celebrate excellence in Cumbria’s hospitality industry.
After attracting more than 1,400 business entries and public nominations, the Cumbria Food Awards panel of judges had a challenging task to decide on shortlists in 13 competitive categories.
Cumbria Food Awards are made possible thanks to its sponsors: headline sponsor Caterite; Cranstons; Enterprise Answers; Grapevine; Hawkshead Relish; Herdwick Cottages; Kendal College; Lamont Pridmore; More? The Artisan Bakery; Onunda; Spinning Jennies; Stagecoach; The Academy by Simon Rogan and Thomson Hayton Winkley Solicitors.
We are Cumbria Food Awards’ media partner and Simon Rogan is the event’s patron.
Northern grocer Booths supplied the food for the networking reception; H&H Reeds provided printing services; The Samling was the awards accommodation provider and Shortridge laundry supplied table linen.
Cumbria Food Awards finalists and winners
Specialist Food Retailer of the Year
Sponsored by Hawkshead Relish
Winner: Cranstons Cumbrian Food Hall, Penrith
Finalists: A Day’s Walk, Cark-in-Cartmel and Ambleside; Grasmere Gingerbread, Grasmere
Drinks Producer of the Year
Sponsored by Grapevine
Winner: Fell Brewery, Flookburgh
Finalists: Great Corby Brewhouse, near Carlisle; Penningtons Tea & Coffee, Kendal
Food Producer of the Year
Sponsored by Cranstons
Winner: Lovingly Artisan, Kendal
Finalists: The Wagtail Kitchen, Kendal; Wild & Fruitful, Maryport
Pub, Bar or Taproom of the Year
Sponsored by Herdwick Cottages
Winner: The Drover’s Rest, Monkhill, Burgh-by-Sands, Carlisle
Finalists: 5 O’clock Somewhere, Kendal; Ambleside Tap Yard
Service of the Year
Sponsored by The Academy by Simon Rogan
Winner: Tom Kilshaw, Levens Kitchen, near Kendal
Finalists: Ross Bell, Pentonbridge Inn, Penton near Carlisle; Alice Mullin, 5 O’clock Somewhere, Kendal
New Business of the Year
Sponsored by Thomson Hayton Winkley Solicitors
Winner: Northern Wine, Kendal
Finalists: Force Café, Ambleside; Three Hills Gelato, Torpenhow near Wigton
Sustainable/Ethical Business of the Year
Sponsored by Onunda
Winner: Shed One, Ulverston
Finalists: Roast Mutton, Kendal; The Yan at Broadrayne, Grasmere
Café of the Year
Sponsored by Cumbria Crack
Winner: Homeground, Windermere
Finalists: Levens Kitchen, near Kendal; The Lingholm Kitchen, Portinscale
Casual Dining Venue of the Year
Sponsored by Enterprise Answers
Winner: The Yan at Broadrayne, Grasmere
Peace & Loaf, Barrow-in-Furness; The Fell Pack, Keswick
Dining Pub of the Year
Sponsored by Lamont Pridmore
Winner: Heft, High Newton
Finalists: George & Dragon, Clifton near Penrith; The Black Swan, Ravenstonedale
Hotel Restaurant of the Year
Sponsored by Stagecoach
Winner: The Forest Side, Grasmere
Finalists: SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel and Lake House, near Windermere; The Samling, Windermere
Chef of the Year
Sponsored by Spinning Jennies
Winner: Paul Leonard, The Forest Side, Grasmere
Finalists: Chris Archer of Pentonbridge Inn, Penton near Carlisle; Ollie Bridgwater, SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel and Lake House, Windermere
Restaurant of the Year
Sponsored by More? The Artisan Bakery
Winner: Rogan & Co, Cartmel
Finalists: 1863, Pooley Bridge; Pentonbridge Inn, Penton near Carlisle
The Rising Star Award
Sponsored by Kendal College
Kim Khaengrit
Outstanding Contribution
Sponsored by Caterite
Peter Gott
