The countdown has begun for a night of celebration for the Cumbrian hospitality industry.
The 2025 Cumbria Food Awards, in association with Caterite, are due to take place on Thursday, March 20, at Kendal College, hosted by TV presenter and chef Matt Tebbutt, of the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen.
More than 160 finalists, sponsors, judges and special guests will attend a canapés and drinks reception and dinner.
Matt will host the awards ceremony and trophy presentation for 13 competitive categories, including cafés, pubs, producers, chefs and restaurants from throughout the county.
Two special awards – for Rising Star and The Dave Myers Cumbrian Food and Drink Hero – 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.
This year they attracted more than 1,000 business entries and public nominations.
Matt, who is a popular guest chef at Westmorland County Show, is known for Saturday Kitchen, Food Unwrapped on Channel 4 and more. With his wife, Lisa, he ran the award-winning The Foxhunter in Monmouthshire and now focuses on his television career and cookery book writing.
The awards are organised by Michaela Robinson-Tate and Harry Atkinson.
Michaela said: “We have been blown away by the standard of entries and nominations received for this year’s awards. Cumbria truly leads the way with its incredible restaurants, chefs, producers and food entrepreneurs.
“We really can’t wait to celebrate on Thursday evening with our host, Matt Tebbutt, guests and all the finalists and winners. Everyone who has made the shortlists should be incredibly proud.”
A team of students from the college will prepare, cook and serve canapés and a two-course street food-style dinner for the guests, under the guidance of the head of faculty for leisure and service industries, Richard Axford and his team.
Cumbria Food Awards are made possible thanks to its sponsors: headline sponsor Caterite; Academy by Simon Rogan; Booths; Cranstons; Enterprise Answers; Grapevine; Hawkshead Relish; Herdwick Cottages; Kendal College; Lamont Pridmore; More? The Artisan Bakery; Porsche Centre South Lakes; Thomson Hayton Winkley Solicitors and Westmorland Farmshop.
The event’s media partner is the breaking news website www.cumbriacrack.co.uk and Simon Rogan is patron.
Caterite is providing the ingredients for the awards dinner and its drinks business, Grapevine, is supplying reception drinks and wine.
Northern grocer Booths is supplying the food for the networking reception; H&H Reeds is providing printing services; bread is by More? The Artisan Bakery and Shortridge laundry is supplying table linen.
To find out more about the finalists, visit our new platform for your essential guide – with interactive map – at https://bit.ly/cumbriacrackfood
Cumbria Food Awards 2025 finalists
Specialist Retailer of the Year
Sponsored by Hawkshead Relish
- Basecamp North Lakes, A66 near Penrith
- Roast Mutton, Kendal
- The Meat Hook, Sedbergh
Food Producer of the Year
Sponsored by Booths
- Eden Yard Rapeseed Oil, Plumpton near Penrith
- The Pie Mill, Threlkeld, Keswick
- The Toffee Shop, Penrith
Drinks Producer of the Year
Sponsored by Grapevine
- Crooked River Brewing Co, Cockermouth and Workington
- Lakes Brew Co, Kendal
- The Lakes Distillery, Bassenthwaite
Pub, Bar or Taproom of the Year
Sponsored by Herdwick Cottages
- Lake District Wine, Keswick
- The Hare & Hounds Inn, Bowland Bridge
- West Walls Brewing Co, Carlisle
Service of the Year
Sponsored by Academy by Simon Rogan
- Craig Blackburn, Old Stamp House, Ambleside
- Peter King, The Yan at Broadrayne, Grasmere
- Stacey Lee Raath, Ramble, Kendal
New Business of the Year
Sponsored by Thomson Hayton Winkley
- Billy’s Barr and Restaurant, Hawkshead
- Cloud Nine Kitchen, Dalton-in-Furness
- The Schelly, Ambleside
Sustainable Business of the Year
Sponsored by Porsche Centre South Lakes
- Basecamp North Lakes, A66 Near Penrith
- Our Farm, Cartmel
- Torpenhow Farmhouse Dairy, near Wigton
Café of the Year
Sponsored by Cumbria Crack
- Industry Kitchen, Barrow-in-Furness
- Mathilde’s Café, Grasmere
- Whytes Café Bar, Carlisle
Takeaway or Street Food Trader of the Year
Sponsored by Cranstons
- British Raj, Kendal
- Fish Express, Kendal
- Peace & Loaf, Barrow-in-Furness
Casual Dining Venue of the Year
Sponsored by Enterprise Answers
- Barua Street Food, Keswick
- Ramble, Kendal
- The Round, Keswick
Contemporary Restaurant of the Year
Sponsored by Lamont Pridmore
- George and Dragon, Clifton, Penrith
- Mizu Pan Asian Restaurant, Borrowdale
- The Black Bull, Sedbergh
- The Oak, Curthwaite near Wigton
Chef of the Year
Sponsored by Westmorland Farmshop
- Jack Bond, The Cottage in the Wood, Braithwaite, near Keswick
- Scott Fairweather, Harry’s Café Bar, Yew Tree Barn, Low Newton
- Paul Leonard, The Forest Side, Grasmere
Acclaimed Restaurant of the Year
Sponsored by More? The Artisan Bakery
- Farlam Hall, Brampton
- Rogan & Co, Cartmel
- The Forest Side, Grasmere
