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News Item - 26th January 2010 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. News Item - 22nd September Winners revealed for 2009 prestigious Food & Drink Awards 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
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 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,
News Item - 22nd September National guide sings the praises of The Bluebell The Bluebell in The inspectors applauded the food at the timber-framed ‘boutique’ pub and restaurant, for it’s style and quality and it’s ‘swanky modern design’. The venue, which won ‘Newcomer of the Year’ in the 2008 Publican Awards and the ‘Dining Pub of the Year’ in the Coventry & Warwickshire Food & Drink 2008 & 2009 Awards and ‘Best Dining Pub’ 2008 at the Warwickshire Life Awards, offers modern British cooking and uses the finest ingredients – almost all locally-sourced, with herbs and vegetables from its own allotment. Duncan and Leigh Taylor, who took over the pub four years ago, were also personally recognised for running “a superb establishment with true professionalism”. The guide, which also features such world-leading restaurants such as Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck restaurant in Bray, said The Bluebell combined “quality ingredients with uncomplicated modern cooking” and produced “food that sings”. Leigh said: “To be included in such an important and prestigious guide as this – alongside world-class establishments - is a testament to the sheer hard work and dedication put in by every member of the team”. “We set ourselves the highest standards in everything we do and we’re pleased that this has been recognised by the inspectors.” Food and Drink Award finalist scoops two national awards A Warwickshire village pub has scooped two major accolades in one of the brewery industry’s most prestigious awards. The Peacock in Oxhill, a finalist in the 2009 Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards, was named Champion Regional Pub for the East and West Midlands and the National “Newcomer of the Year” at a glittering awards evening held in The awards -viewed by the brewery trade as the “Pub Oscars” - were run by the Morning Advertiser, the licensed trade’s national weekly publication. Thousands of pubs took part from throughout “It was a fantastic evening for us,” said Pam. “We went along thinking it was great to be nominated and ended up winning two of the main awards – to say we were over the moon is putting it mildly.” Pam and Yvonne took over The Peacock 18 months ago and with Yvonne’s kitchen expertise - she was once a presenter on Yorkshire Television’s Farmhouse Kitchen - food was obviously going to be a major attraction. But it is making the pub a real village local that has given Pam and Yvonne most pleasure and they have been inundated with congratulations from regulars from around the region. “We really want to be seen as a pub that does great food,” explains Yvonne. “We want The Peacock to be at the centre of village life and an important part of the community. “When we moved here we knew we were going to have to work hard to get things as we wanted them but I think these awards show were are getting there – but we’re not done yet,” says Yvonne. “There are plenty of things we still want to do here, these aren’t our first awards and we’re determined to make sure that they aren’t our last ones.” For more information about The Peacock visit www.thepeacockoxhill.co.uk News Item - 17th August 2009 Celebrate achievement - secure your seat at this year's gala dinner & awards ceremony
This year's gala dinner and awards ceremony will be held at the impressive Ardencote Manor Hotel, Nr Warwick on Monday 21st September 2009.
Tickets to this year’s event have been held at 2008 prices at £35 per head to include a welcome drink on arrival, a three course meal created and inspired by the region’s finest local produce and a glass of wine. Last year’s event was extremely popular and tickets sold out very quickly. To avoid disappointment and guarantee your priority place at this year’s awards, please telephone the Food and Drink Awards credit/debit card booking line on 0844 477 8379, or alternatively download the Gala Dinner Reservation Form. On receipt of your booking form and payment, you will be sent an acknowledgement letter and your tickets. News Item - 28th July 2009 Shortlisted entries revealed for 2009 Food & Drink Awards Coventry & Warwickshire food & drink businesses are defying the current economic downturn and proving that value for money, quality, commitment to local produce, service and innovation counts in order to survive. An impressive 33 businesses have now been shortlisted for the prestigious 2009 Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards. The awards, which recognise and reward excellence and innovation in locally sourced produce, are organised by Warwickshire County Council and supported by Advantage West Midlands.
Despite the challenging economic climate, the standard of entries submitted this year has been extremely high indicating the value placed on winning an award. Winners not only benefit from extensive PR but increased awareness and recognition of their quality standards and commitment All shortlisted candidates for the 8 categories will now receive anonymous visits by the independent judging organisation ‘Quality in Tourism’. All shortlisted entries will au
Around 150 businesses are expected
Simon Haigh, Michelin-starred Head Chef at
The businesses shortlisted by category are as follows:
Best Restaurant Ashton Lodge Hotel & Restaurant, Nr Rugby www.ashtonlodgehotel.co.uk Chapel House, Atherstone, www.chapelhouse.eu Malbec Restaurant, Restaurant 23,
Best International Restaurant Raffles Restaurant, The Coconut Lagoon, Tumeric Gold, Best Dining Pub/Inn The The Bell Inn, Welford upon The Bluebell, Henley in The Granville @ Barford www.granvillebarford.co.uk The The Peacock @ Oxhill www.thepeacockoxhill.co.uk The Red Lion, Hunningham www.redlionhunningham.co.uk The Stag at Offchurch, Offchurch www.thestagatoffchurch.com Best Coffee House/Tea Shop Bread & Co Ltd, McKechnies independent tea and coffee bar, Hatton Locks Café, Hatton www.hattonlockscafe.co.uk Best Restaurant/Cafe within a Visitor Attraction Hatton Locks Café, Hatton www.hattonlockscafe.co.uk Planters Restaurant, Freasley, RSC Courtyard, Best Breakfast Ashton Lodge Country House, Nr Rugby www.ashtonlodgehotel.co.uk Planters Restaurant, Freasley, Loxley Guesthouse, Loxley www.loxleyguesthouse.co.uk White-Sails, Best Local Food or Drink Producer Harvest of Arden, Nr Stratford-upon-Avon www.harvestofarden.com Lighthorne Lamb, Lighthorne Ragley Estate Meats, Nr Alcester www.ragleyhall.com Ringswood Icecream, Nr Rugby www.ringswood.co.uk Sarah Edward Cakes, Champion of Local Produce (Retailer) Bread & Co Ltd, Ragley Estate Meats/Hillers Farm Shop, Nr Alcester www.ragleyhall.com Talton Mill Farm Shop, Newbold-on-Stour www.talton-mill.co.uk
Michelin starred Head Chef appointed Chair of Judging Panel for the 2009 Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards
Simon Haigh, the Michelin starred Executive Head Chef at the Mallory Court Hotel, has been appointed Chair of the Judging Panel for the prestigious 2009 Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards. The annual awards, which will be announced at a Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Monday 21 September at Ardencote Manor Hotel, recognise and reward excellence and innovation in locally sourced produce that exists throughout the region. Organised by Warwickshire County Council and supported by Advantage West Midlands, the awards were open to all Coventry & Warwickshire businesses that either serve or produce food and drink. The deadline for entry into the awards scheme has now passed. Simon Haigh, one of the UK’s most talented and versatile Chefs, has retained a highly coveted Michelin star for the seventh consecutive year at the Mallory Court Hotel, located in Shakespeare Country. The Michelin Guide remains the definitive guide to the country’s most superior dining destinations and the one accolade that all Chefs aspire to. The Guide’s publication confirms Mallory’s status as the only Michelin starred restaurant in Warwickshire. Simon, along with an experienced and knowledgeable industry panel including independent judging organisation ‘Quality in Tourism’, will assist with the short-listing and judging of the entries. Five businesses per category will be short-listed in relation to their quality, excellence in customer service and innovative use of local produce at a judging meeting on 20 July at the Mallory Court Hotel. The final placing meeting will take place on 10 August at the hotel when the winners will be decided. All entrants will be provided with invaluable and useful feedback after the assessment. Simon Haigh, Head Chef at Mallory Court Hotel stated “I am delighted to have been appointed Chair of the Judging Panel for these highly coveted and prestigious awards. The awards are a great initiative in rewarding and recognising local businesses for their hard work and commitment to using locally sourced produce. Each year the quality and standard of the entries gets harder in choosing a winner and I’m certain that this year will be no exception. We will be looking for that extra attention to detail, the commitment to the provision of quality, locally sourced produce and exemplary standards of service and innovation”. News Item - 22nd June 2009 Food for Though event evaluation Thank you to the delegates from across Coventry & Warwickshire, who attended the Food for Thought event at the Macdonald Ansty Hall Hotel on Tuesday 19th May. We had a fantastic amount of positive feedback as summarised in the attached report. We are still chasing the recipies of locally sourced food that Lesley Waters used as part of the cooking demonstrations. As soon as we receive these, we will upload them to the website. Download Food for Thought evaluation report News Item - 15th June Is your Entry in? A final call is going out to food and drink business to ensure they are entered into this year’s With the June 30th entry deadline fast approaching, the Awards’ organiser, Warwickshire County Counci,l is calling on the industry to complete and return entries. The annual awards celebrate excellence in customer service and the innovative use of local produce. Supported by Advantage West Midlands, the Awards are open to all Encouraging businesses to enter, Richard Drakeley, Tourism Development Officer at Warwickshire County Council, said: “The Food and Drink Awards are much sought after by the industry. They are not only a mark of excellence and provide additional leverage in PR terms, but also provide winning businesses an opportunity to boost staff morale and provide a well deserved pat on the back”. Full details of the award categories, entry criteria and entry forms can be found at www.foodanddrink2009.co.uk , or by telephoning Richard Drakeley, Tourism Development Officer, on 01926 412136. Winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony to be held at the impressive Ardencote Manor Hotel, Nr Warwick, on Monday, 21st September 2009. News Item - May 19th 2009 Celebrity Chef Lesley Waters Launches the 2009 Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards The 2009 Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards have been officially launched by celebrity chef Lesley Waters and are now open for entries. The popular chef, known to millions through her TV work, launched the Awards to a full house of over 130 hospitality businesses at the ‘Food for Thought’ Industry Forum held at the Macdonald Ansty Hall Hotel, Nr Coventry, by creating a series of ‘signature’ dishes using fresh local produce from across the region. The annual awards, organised by Warwickshire County Council and supported by Advantage West Midlands, are open to all Coventry & Warwickshire businesses who either serve or produce food and drink, including local producers, pubs, restaurants, cafes, accommodation providers as well as attractions and garden centres with their own restaurants or cafes. A maximum of five businesses per category will be short-listed, in relation to their quality, excellence in customer service and innovative use of local produce. The winners will then be announced at a Gala Awards Dinner to be held at the Ardencote Manor Hotel, Nr Warwick, on September 21st 2009. Richard Drakeley, Tourism Development Officer at the County Council said “Despite the slow down in the economy, we know that many food and drink businesses have show great dedication and hard work to pull through – and even succeed against the odds. Now more than ever, is the time to shine and send out a positive message about your business. We know that by winning an award, businesses benefit in so many ways, from the marketing and PR surrounding the awards, to the increase in staff morale and the invaluable feedback they receive from the judges. The closing date for entries is Tuesday 30th June. Entrants can apply on-line via the website www.foodanddrink2009.co.uk. It is free for businesses to participate in the Awards, apart from covering the cost of the Judge’s meal. Entrants must complete the form, attach samples of their menu, promotional material, a list of suppliers and state in no more than 250 words why they deserve For further information on categories and how to apply, please see the website www.foodanddrink2009.co.uk.
News Item - May 19th 2009
Food for Thought Success Praise has been served up by a full house at Warwickshire’s first ‘Food for Thought’ event, hosted by TV Chef Lesley Waters. The aim of the special one day event was to inspire and invigorate Helen Youle attended on behalf of The Bell at Alderminster, and The Alscot Estate at Atherstone-on-Stour, and remarked: “I was greatly enthused by the event as it was clear that both The Bell, Alderminster and the team behind “Food for Thought” share the same values, a passion for the business and the importance of delivering good quality, local, seasonal, fresh produce. “This is something that we feel very strongly about, and much of the fruit and vegetables that we use are grown on the Estate in the kitchen garden at Similar praise came from businesses around the county, ranging from the Chapel House Hotel in Atherstone, to Ashton Lodge Country Hotel and Restaurant in Rugby; The Granville at Barford; or McKecknies independent tea and coffee bar in Stratford-upon-Avon.
In total more than 100 hospitality businesses joined Lesley Waters for the Food for Thought event, during which she created a series of ‘signature’ dishes using fresh local produce from across the region, as part of
And the event also celebrated the launch of the 2009 Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards, bringing together hospitality and tourism businesses to promote the use of local produce and recognise and reward excellence and innovation
The annual awards, organised by Warwickshire County Council and supported by Advantage West Midlands, are open to all Coventry & Warwickshire businesses who either serve or produce food and drink, including local producers, pubs, restaurants, cafes, accommodation providers as well as attractions and garden centres with their own restaurants or cafes. A maximum of five businesses per category will be short-listed, in relation to their quality, excellence in customer service and innovative use of local produce. The winners will then be announced at a Gala Awards Dinner to be held in September. Richard Drakeley, Tourism Development Officer at Warwickshire County Council said: “Despite the slow down in the economy, we know that many food and drink businesses have shown great dedication and hard work to pull through – and even succeed against the odds. “Now more than ever, is the time to shine and send out a positive message about your business. We know that by winning an award, businesses benefit in so many ways, from the marketing and PR surrounding the awards, to the increase in staff morale and the invaluable feedback they receive from the judges.” The closing date for entries is Tuesday 30th June. Entrants can apply on-line via the website www.foodanddrink2009.co.uk. It is free for businesses to participate in the Awards, apart from covering the cost of the Judge’s meal. Entrants must complete the form, attach samples of their menu, promotional material, a list of suppliers and state in no more than 250 words why they deserve to win. Businesses must use the criteria for the awards before they submit their entry. For further information on categories and how to apply, please see the website www.foodanddrink2009.co.uk News item - April 19th 2009
Passionate about your food and drink business? FOOD FOR THOUGHT If your business is fanatical about food and drink, don’t miss out on your opportunity to attend Food for Thought, Coventry and Warwickshire’s first dedicated Food and Drink Industry Forum. This is your chance to mix with up to 100 other food service businesses, local producers and retailers, in a lively, social and dynamic environment, to learn how you can make a positive difference to your bottom line throughout 2009. • Discover free and inexpensive marketing ideas to drive forward your FOR FURTHER INFORMATION DOWNLOAD
For the agenda, workshop content details and speaker biographies click here To book telephone 01926 412136 or complete the booking form *Non attendance. Should you fail to attend without providing at least 48 hours cancellation notice, Warwickshire County Council reserves the right to charge your company a fee of £30. Warwickshire County Council reserve the right to amend the programme should circumstances arise beyond their control.
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