27 Aug Finalists for Best-in-Class Dining categories and Local Food Heroes Announced

Judges have been hard at work evaluating and shortlisting finalists in the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards’ venue categories – Booker Gastro Pub of the Year, Community Café of the Year, Restaurant of the Year and World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year.

After final Mystery Shopping visits, winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony in October.

Recognising and celebrating excellence in the sector’s brilliant people, places and produce, the competition for these widely recognised categories grows bigger each year, as teams from all around the county recognise just how much winning can mean, to even the most established chef, café, pub or restaurant.

Rachel Mallows MBE, Awards Director said: “As well as highlighting a commitment to exceptional experiences, championing and serving local, these accolades set businesses apart as leaders in the local food and drink community. Being shortlisted helps enormously with attracting new customers in the coming weeks and months. Let’s show all of these shortlisted venues our support.

We are also delighted to announce the finalists in our Local Food Hero category – one where we celebrate our food heroes from across the county who are making a difference to so many people and businesses.”

Finalists for the Booker Gastro Pub of the Year, sponsored by Booker, are:

Althorp Coaching Inn, Great Brington

The Countryman, Staverton

The George, Great Oxendon

The Kings Arms, Polebrook

The Plough, Everdon

The Rose & Crown, Yardley Hastings

White Horse Inn & Restaurant, Stoke Albany

Finalists for the Community Café of the Year, sponsored by Public Health in West Northamptonshire Council are:

Forge Coffee, Evenley

Happy Mondays Coffee Co., Rushden

New Lodge Farm, Bulwick

Saints Coffee, Northampton

Whites Kitchen, Earls Barton

Woodford Halse Community Café

Finalists for Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Greedy Gordons, are:

Ember Restaurant, Wellingborough

Hibiscus Fine Dining, Northampton

Nuovo, Northampton

The Cedar Restaurant at Fawsley Hall Hotel & Spa

The Falcon Hotel, Castle Ashby

The Flavour Trailer, Brixworth

The Hopping Hare, Northampton

Finalists for World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by British Pepper and Spice, are:

Alacati Grill, Daventry

Mexican Fire Garden, Kettering

Moghul Rooms, Towcester

Saffron Fine Indian Dining, Brackley

Sakura Sushi, Northampton

Tamarind Restaurant, Northampton

Finalists for Local Food Hero, sponsored by Howes Percival, are:

Jo West, Daylight Centre’s Veggie Patch

Milly Fyfe, No Fuss Meals for Busy Parents CIC

Jane Gurney and Debbie Cull, Manor Farm Bakery

Steve Reid, Friars Farm, Northampton Cheese Co and Northampton Charcuterie Co

Katie Steele, SNVB Community Larders

Richard Gordon, Director of Greedy Gordons, said: “We are delighted to sponsor the Restaurant of the Year category, and to continue our support and championing of the excellent food and drink available throughout our county. As industry award winners and finalists ourselves, we appreciate how important it is to receive recognition for all the hard work and dedication and wish all the finalists the very best of luck!”

Ian Kelland, Managing Director of British Pepper & Spice, added: “It has been great to see the consistently high quality of entries across the World Cuisine Restaurants and spread throughout Northamptonshire.   This is a wonderful eat out list and I encourage you to try them.”

The Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards shine a spotlight on local culinary excellence. Results will be announced at the Awards celebrations on 17 October 2024 at The Royal & Derngate Theatre, supported again by caterers Portfolio Events.

For more details on all the categories in the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2024/25, please visit the Awards’ website – www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk – or call the Awards team on 01933 664437 or email awards@northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk

You can also follow the Awards on Facebook at @foodawards or X and Instagram at @foodawardsHQ or LinkedIn at @weetabixnfadawards