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2009 Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards Evaluation Warwickshire County Council and partners are seeking your opinion on the future delivery of the Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards. If you are a food and drink producer or hospitality businesses operating within Coventry & Warwickshire, please spare a few moments to complete a short on-line questionnaire. Your opinion really does count and we welcome the views of both entrants and non-entrants, so that we can better understand your perception and attitudes towards both the Warwickshire County Council would like to thank you for your time and cooperation. Proving that businesses can succeed in a recession, local businesses celebrated in style last night as the winners of the Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink awards 2009 were revealed. Over 140 businesses attended the prestigious Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at the Ardencote Manor Hotel to applaud those fortunate enough to win a prestigious award. Organised by Warwickshire County Council and supported by Advantage West Midlands, the awards recognise and reward excellence and innovation in locally sourced produce. Awardswere given for ‘Best Restaurant’, ‘Best International Restaurant’, ‘Best Dining Pub/Inn’, ‘Best Coffee House/Teashop’, ‘Best Restaurant/Cafe within a Visitor Attraction’, ‘Best Breakfast’, ‘Best Local Food or Drink Producer’ and ‘Champion of Local Produce (retailer). All shortlisted entries were automatically entered into three further awards: Champion of Local Produce, Best Local Food and Drink Experience and Champion of Customer Service. The finalists were announced during dinner by Lorna Bailey from BBC Coventry & Warwickshire. The winners were presented with a trophy or certificate to acknowledge their award. The core supporters and sponsors of the evening included Advantage West Midlands, Business Link, Farmstay
Simon Haigh, Michelin-starred Head Chef at MalloryCourtHotel and Chair of the judging panel stated, “The overwhelming response from local businesses yet again re-enforces the importance of winning one of these awards. It was extremely challenging in selecting just one winner from each category. Our winners have all demonstrated that extra attention to detail, the commitment to using locally sourced produce and exemplary standards of service and innovation. All our shortlisted finalists should be deservedly proud of their achievements”. Councilor Chris Saint, Leisure, Culture & Housing Portfolio Holder at Warwickshire County Council stated, “The awards provide a real boost for the regions food and drink industry and it’s great to see this year’s awards highlighting so many businesses that have excelled. Even in these challenging economic times, our finalists have proved that value for money, quality and commitment to local food sourcing are vital if they are to succeed. I congratulate all our winners and runners-up and hope they go on to benefit greatly from wining such a highly coveted award”.
The 2009 winners are: Best Restaurant Malbec Petit Bistro, Restaurant 23, Chapel House, Atherstone, (Commended) www.chapelhouse.eu Best International Restaurant Agra Palace, Turmeric Gold, Raffles Restaurant, Best Dining Pub/Inn The Bluebell, The Red Lion, Hunningham (Highly Commended) www.redlionhunningham.co.uk The Best Coffee House/Tea Shop McKechnies independent tea and coffee bar, Hatton Locks Café, Hatton (Highly Commended) www.hattonlockscafe.co.uk Bread & Co, Best Restaurant/Cafe within a Visitor Attraction Planters Restaurant, Freasley, Hatton Locks Café, Hatton, (Commended) www.hattonlockscafe.co.uk Best Breakfast Ashton Lodge Hotel & Restaurant, Nr Rugby (Winner) www.ashtonlodgehotel.co.uk White-Sails, Loxley Guesthouse, Loxley (Commended) www.loxleyguesthouse.co.uk Best Local Food or Drink Producer Lighthorne Lamb, Lighthorne (Winner) Harvest of Arden, Nr Stratford-upon-Avon (Highly Commended) www.harvestofarden.com Ringswood Icecream, Nr Rugby, (Commended) www.ringswood.co.uk Champion of Local Produce (Retailer) Ragley Estate Meats/Hillers Farm Shop, Nr Alcester (Winner) www.ragleyhall.com Talton Mill Farm Shop, Newbold-on-Stour (Highly Commended) www.talton-mill.co.uk Bread & Co, Judges Commendations Champion of Local Produce (Food Service) Planters Restaurant, Freasley, Champion of Customer Service (Individual) Lizzie King, The Stag @Offchurch (Winner) www.thestagatoffchurch.com Best Local Food and Drink Experience Malbec Petit Bistro,
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