Cumbria’s hospitality industry is preparing for one of the biggest dates in its calendar.
The 2024 Cumbria Food Awards are due to take place on Thursday, March 14 at Kendal College, hosted by TV presenter, chef and restaurateur Simon Rimmer.
More than 150 finalists, judges, sponsors and special guests are due to attend a drinks reception and gala dinner, before Simon announces the winners of 13 competitive awards, presented to some of the county’s best cafés, restaurants, chefs, producers and service stars.
Two special awards – for Rising Star and Outstanding Contribution – will also be announced.
The independent awards, held in association with headline sponsor Caterite and judged by a panel of 15 industry experts, are designed to recognise and celebrate excellence in Cumbria’s hospitality industry.
TV star Simon, 60, of Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, operates a number of restaurants and still enjoys cooking for diners and overseeing service.
The Manchester-based chef, who has written four books and is also known for the BBC’s Something for the Weekend and Strictly Come Dancing, is a regular visitor to the county and a favourite at Westmorland County Show’s food theatre.
He said: “I’ve been coming up to Cumbria for a long time and have seen its food and drink scene really take off over the last 20 years, with so many Michelin-starred restaurants, incredible producers and industry stars.
“It will be great to meet lots of the people I’ve heard about and to see some of the county’s new faces. I’m privileged to still be running restaurants myself, so I understand what it takes to keep a food or drink business going these days.
“Those guys who keep things at such high standards deserve to be recognised, so it will be great to hand out the awards. It’s going to be a fantastic night – I can’t wait.”
Before Simon announces the winners, a team of 50 students from the college will cook and serve canapés and a two-course dinner for the guests, under the guidance of the head of faculty for leisure and service industries, Richard Axford and his team.
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 their 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 the awards’ media partner and Simon Rogan is the event’s patron.
Northern grocer Booths is supplying the food for the networking reception; H&H Reeds is providing printing services; The Samling is the awards accommodation provider and Shortridge laundry is supplying table linen.
Finalists
Specialist Food Retailer of the Year
- A Day’s Walk, Cark-in-Cartmel and Ambleside
- Cranstons Cumbrian Food Hall, Penrith
- Grasmere Gingerbread, Grasmere
Drinks Producer of the Year
- Fell Brewery, Flookburgh
- Great Corby Brewhouse, near Carlisle
- Penningtons Tea & Coffee, Kendal
Food Producer of the Year
- Lovingly Artisan, Kendal
- The Wagtail Kitchen, Kendal
- Wild & Fruitful, Maryport
Pub, Bar or Taproom of the Year
- 5 O’clock Somewhere, Kendal
- Ambleside Tap Yard
- The Drover’s Rest, Monkhill, Burgh-by-Sands, Carlisle
Service of the Year
- Ross Bell, Pentonbridge Inn, Penton near Carlisle
- Tom Kilshaw, Levens Kitchen, near Kendal
- Alice Mullin, 5 O’clock Somewhere, Kendal
New Business of the Year
- Force Café, Ambleside
- Northern Wine, Kendal
- Three Hills Gelato, Torpenhow near Wigton
Sustainable/Ethical Business of the Year
- Roast Mutton, Kendal
- Shed One Gin, Ulverston
- The Yan at Broadrayne, Grasmere
Café of the Year
- Homeground, Windermere
- Levens Kitchen, near Kendal
- The Lingholm Kitchen, Portinscale
Casual Dining Venue of the Year
- Peace & Loaf, Barrow-in-Furness
- The Fell Pack, Keswick
- The Yan at Broadrayne, Grasmere
Dining Pub of the Year
- George & Dragon, Clifton near Penrith
- Heft, High Newton
- The Black Swan, Ravenstonedale
Hotel Restaurant of the Year
- SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel and Lake House, near Windermere
- The Forest Side, Grasmere
- The Samling, Windermere
Chef of the Year
- Chris Archer of Pentonbridge Inn, Penton near Carlisle
- Ollie Bridgwater, SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel and Lake House, Windermere
- Paul Leonard, Forest Side, Grasmere
Restaurant of the Year
- 1863, Pooley Bridge
- Pentonbridge Inn, Penton near Carlisle
- Rogan & Co, Cartmel
Special awards to be announced on the night
- The Rising Star Award
- Outstanding Contribution
