taste awards winners 2025
Celebrating 21 years of showcasing the very best of Yorkshire’s food and drink, the Deliciously Yorkshire Taste Awards revealed their 2025 champions in style this week, with a glittering awards ceremony at The Pavilions – Great Yorkshire Events Centre.
With thanks to our Headline Sponsor:
“Booths was founded on one simple aim, to sell the best food and drink available. Recognising excellence in locally produced food and drink is vital in the food industry and we’re proud to support 21 years of celebrating the best that Yorkshire has to offer.”
Nigel Murray – Managing Director of Booths
The biggest food and drink awards in the North of England.
The annual celebration of the region’s thriving industry is now the biggest of its kind in the North of England, receiving hundreds of entries across its 26 categories from businesses of all shapes and sizes across the county.
Welcoming Booths as this year’s Headline Sponsor, judging for the awards took place over the summer, led by Head Judge, artisan food champion Nigel Barden.
The seasoned panel included industry experts, chefs, supermarket buyers, writers, consultants and food entrepreneurs, who carefully worked their way through each of the delicious entries, before whittling them down into the coveted list of finalists which was announced in September.
The much-anticipated Taste Award Champions, which included awards for Best Pork Pie, Bakery, New Business and Best Sustainable Product amongst others, were finally revealed this week at a black-tie event which saw guests dine on a delicious menu, featuring many of the shortlisted and winning products.
As well as the product and business categories, the winner of the new Rising Star award was announced. The 2025 Judy Bell Yorkshire Food Hero Award was also revealed, along with the overall Taste Award Supreme Product Champion, which is the panel’s stand out entry of the year.
And the 2025 winners are…
“ The Taste Awards are a real testament to the strength of our industry here in Yorkshire, and these awards go from strength to strength, attracting entries from new and innovative businesses, as well as from those famous Yorkshire stalwarts we all know and love. Being involved in the judging is always so exciting, and it’s encouraging to uncover something new and delicious each time. It’s great to see that businesses here in God’s own county continue to innovate, collaborate and thrive, producing products of such a high standard.”
Nigel Barden – Head Judge
And the 2025 winners are…
Best Bakery Product
WINNER: Bondgate Bakery
Fruity Muesli Bread
Otley based Bondgate was founded by in 1984 by husband-and-wife team Steve and Sally Hinchliffe, who have built on their original handful of family recipes to create an award-winning business loved throughout their local town and beyond.
Our winning product was a clear stand-out for the judges who described it as “the perfect breakfast treat. Attractive to look with its marmalade glazed top, it feels generous to eat with an abundance of nuts and seeds. We would dive into this at breakfast and probably throughout the rest of the day too!”
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best beer
WINNER: Harrogate Brewing Co
Harrogate Best Bitter
A fabulous, family business, run by Joe and Julie Joyce alongside daughter Martha. As well as the popular Tap Room they’ve recently acquired The Old Bell Tavern in the heart of Harrogate serving their own award-winning range of beers alongside a newly launched food menu designed by chef, James North.
Our 2025 winning beer was described as “complex and intriguing with a nose that beckons you on! This beer is seriously good and provides a multi-layered mouthful packed full of flavour, followed by a long, satisfying and gently bitter finish. A pint to be savoured and almost certainly repeated!”. Congratulations team!
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best beverage (cold)
WINNER: Equinox Organic Kombucha
Pink Grapefruit & Guava
West Yorkshire based Equinox Organic Kombucha produce an award-winning range of organic, gut-friendly, Kombucha drinks from their base in Sowerby Bridge and the judges loved the winning product’s beautiful natural flavour and colour.
In 2020 Equinox were the first kombucha company in Europe to certify as a B Corp and have picked up a raft of awards along the way!
“A very grown-up drink that can be sipped and enjoyed without feeling like you’re missing out. With a perfect fizz and well-balanced combination of exotic flavours, its complex, sharp and oh so moreish!”
Best beverage (hot)
WINNER: Dark Woods Coffee
Colombia Villa Betulia Maragesha
Roasting from a converted Victorian textile mill at the foot of the West Yorkshire Pennines, the team also run a Barista school, and pop-up café.
Committed to doing business that benefits everyone, in addition to retaining their B-Corp status, and another storming year for Great Taste Awards they have also expanded operations and been accredited, for the third year running, by the Good Business Charter.
“A balanced light roast that delivers exceptional nuanced, complex flavours with a well-judged juicy acidity and pleasing fruit and floral notes. A great example of a speciality coffee farmed, processed and roasted with great skill and attention.”
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Best cheese & dairy
WINNER: St Helen’s Farm
St Helen’s Farm Goats Butter
Initially founded and run by husband-and-wife Angus and Kathleen Wielkopolski 40 years ago, the East Yorkshire based business have already had a successful 2025 with several Great Taste awards and new listings in major supermarkets for some of their products.
Our winning product really hit the spot with our panel who loved the flavour journey, describing it as “Clever and well-made. This product is creamy, subtle and delicious with just the right amount of ‘farm yardy’ notes on the finish without being overpowering. Perfection!”
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best confectionery
WINNER: Mallowdramatic
Malted Caramel Popcorn Marshmallow
Founded as a passion project back in 2022 after losing his job as a chef during the pandemic, owner John Short has spent several years perfecting his products to encompass a range of marshmallows using both traditional and more unusual flavour combinations which certainly hit the mark with our judges with as much as possible made from scratch. Daughter Florence, and mum and dad who’ve been with him every step of the way will be very proud!
“Simply delicious!” was how the panel described our winning 2025 Best Confectionery product. “Soft, fluffy and packed with delicious, perfectly balanced flavour, along with a tempting texture, its clever and quirky, and was a standout product this year.”
Best Fish & Seafood
WINNER: Yorkshire Speciality Foods
Traditionally Cured Gravadlax
Yorkshire Speciality Foods Traditionally Cured Gravadlax was a treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds and had clearly been produced with considerable skill and care to achieve the top spot at this year’s awards. Managing Director Andrew uses his 25 years’ experience as a fine dining chef to create beautiful products using traditional methods of curing and smoking, burning only the finest oak chips.
The judges described this year’s winner as “fresh and vibrant”, with a beautiful lemony aroma and delicious texture. “Yorkshire is transported to Scandinavia with a glorious mix of salt, molasses and dill. Perfect balanced smoke, it looks lovely, has a delicious freshness and is incredibly inviting. A very worthy winner.”
Best free from
WINNER: The British Premium Sausage Company
Gluten Free Cumberland Sausage
Born out of a desire to simply make a great sausage, The British Premium Sausage Company is run by managing director Ian Cundell and finance director Andy Dalton with Ian’s son Simon also playing a key role in the business.
“This product looks so appealing and has cooked beautifully,” the Judging Panel said. “With its subtle flavours and nice juicy texture, it’s the perfect example of a ‘free from’ product created with attention to detail and care, and we would happily eat this any day of the week.”
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Best Fresh Meat
WINNER: Lishman’s of Ilkley
Heritage Breed T-Bone Steak
Established in 1986, the shop has evolved from a single shop into the fully-fledged butchers, deli, and charcuterie that you see today. Fresh off the back of being named Britain’s Best Butchers Shop 2025 at the Meat Management Awards, Ilkley based Lishman’s Butchers & Charcutiers is run by David Lishman and Daughter Emma.
A standout piece of meat that was full of moisture and flavour, and with a beautiful tender texture, our panel loved the balance of fat and praised the unmistakable quality in this exceptional entry.
“What a treat this was to judge” they said. “Full of delicious flavour and perfectly tender and moist throughout. It’s cooked beautifully, looks stunning and the quality all round is undeniable – it’s perfection!”
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best ice cream
WINNER: Ryeburn of Helmsley
Mango & Passion Fruit Frozen Yoghurt
Ryeburn of Helmsley, the factory, shop and café just off Helmsley’s Church Street, is the HQ for the award-winning ice cream company, built on the site of the family farm.
The Otterburn’s had been dairy farmers for some 100 years until milk quotas and a catastrophic fall in milk prices led David’s father Richard to diversify into ice cream in 1988. They have been nailing the art ever since, including scooping the accolade of National Ice Cream Champion last year.
“Sweet, fruity, creamy and ridiculously moreish. The texture is just perfect, and we adore the generous chucks of fruit. It feels luxurious and grown up and we could easily overindulge on it very happily! We just love it.”
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Best pantry
WINNER: Blacker Hall Farm Shop
Korean BBQ Sauce
The popular Wakefield based businesses is now run by John’s son, Edward, and his wife, Cheryl, who continue the family’s passion for selling high-quality, local food directly to the public through their farm shop which now boasts an award-winning butchery and deli counter as well as an in-house bakery and on-site café.
“A delicious balance of tangy, savoury and sweet flavours,” was how the panel described this exceptional condiment. “This would brighten up the blandest of ingredients or indeed just smeared on a mere cracker! Perfect texture and rich, smoky notes, this is a true store cupboard essential and could be used in a huge variety of ways. Bravo!”
Best pork pie
WINNER: J A Mounfield & Son
1lb Pork Pie
Founded nearly 125 years ago by James Pratt Mounfield, this Selby based business is now a thriving butchers and bakers run by his grandson David, and great grandchildren James and Emma.
“Perfectly glazed appearance and perfectly baked pastry throughout, it’s rustic and appealing and a pie to be proud of. Full of flavour, texture and bite with even jelly distribution. A seriously great pork pie that screams quality, skill and care. Just grand!”
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Best prepared meat (cold)
WINNER: Lishman’s of Ilkley
Pork, Pepper & Garlic Salami
Lishman’s Ilkley base is home to a wonderful team of master butchers, bakers and charcutiers who are passionate about creating the very best produce around.
Sourcing the majority of their meat from established Yorkshire farms, they support regional farmers who share their commitment to husbandry, welfare and outstanding quality.
“A really great example of a simple product done exceptionally well. It smells great, looks appealing and has a perfect balance of meat to fat, delicious flavour throughout and a lovely soft and tender texture, with just the right amount of bite. Quality ingredients skillfully crafted into a fantastic product – what a stunner!”
Best prepared meat (hot)
WINNER: Anna’s Happy Trotters
Free Range Guanciale
With an award-winning range of products created using her free-range pigs on the family farm in Howden, Anna Longthorp’s Free Range Guanciale was roundly praised by the panel.
The Longthorp family have been farming for four generations. Their pigs are among an elite – with less than 2% pigs in the UK free range. The wholesale business supplies products into high end butchers shops, farm shops, catering and retail directly from their own on farm processing facility.
Our winning product was described by the judges as “Decadent and seriously delicious! A perfect balance of salt and spice, this product just radiates quality. It’s cooked beautifully and has a delicious balance of fat to meat making it full of flavour in every bite!” A Yorkshire spin on a classic product which knocked the judges socks off!
best ready to eat
WINNER: Anna’s Happy Trotters
Free Range Sausage Roll
A perfect sausage roll is one of life’s pleasures and Anna Longthorp’s product, created with free range pork produced with care on the family farm in East Yorkshire, is just that.
This year’s panel described our 2025 winner as: “Simply delicious! Generous and attractive, this product is a standout and has been so well executed. Fresh, well-seasoned meat with a delicious texture and bite, it’s traditional in all the right ways and is a truly great example of a simple product produced with great care, skills and attention to every detail – bravo!”
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best savoury condiment
WINNER: YoYo Laos Sauce
YoYo Pineapple, Chilli & Roasted Pepper Sauce
Halifax based business YoYo Laos Sauce, founded and run by husband-and-wife team Yoyo and Frazer was a standout amongst a host of strong contenders.
Inspired by the flavours of Southeast Asia, the talented couple are on a mission to raise awareness of Laos and its food through their innovative products. Their award-winning range,(including Overall Winner of the National Chilli Awards 2022), continues to pick up fans as well as stockist both locally and nationwide.
“This product delivers!” said the judges. “Fresh flavours paired with a punchy but well-balanced heat, this sauce has a great colour, delicious, balanced sweetness and appealing texture.”
best spirit
WINNER: Fairfax Distillery
Black Tom Gin
Black Tom Gin from Colton based Fairfax Distillery, is produced by Ashley and Kelly McCarthy, who have also run the Ye Old Sun Inn for 20 years, and it delighted the panel with its sweet, citrusy notes.
Our 2025 winning product was described as “Flavour-full and well-balanced, offering inviting aromas of warming vanilla and bright orange zest. We love its rich notes of candied fruit and Christmas cake spices that unfold gently in delicious layers, leading to a long, refined finish with a pleasantly dry edge. A very special and cleverly made drink – we absolutely loved it!”
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best sustainable product
WINNER: Soanes Poultry
Higher Welfare Whole Chicken
Family-owned Middleton on the Wolds based Soanes Poultry has been rearing chicken since 1947 and now sell their Yorkshire-reared range to butchers, independent retailers, wholesalers, catering butchers and restaurants nationwide.
Amongst a raft of impressive entries once again, this year’s winner impressed the panel with their clear, well-articulated and evidenced entry, alongside a seriously great product.
They said “This business has shown a consistent and proactive commitment to sustainability through their entry, integrating multiple practices across their business that show they care about the way they produce, process and distribute. You can taste the care and attention that has gone into this product. Juicy, moist and full of flavour, it’s clearly been raised and cared for to the highest standard.”
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best sweet spreads & preserves
WINNER: Rosalind’s Larder
Blueberry, Pinot Noir & Liquorice Jam
Founded and run by Rosalind Waugh after retiring from her successful career in the NHS as Consultant Radiographer, she creates a range of award-winning artisan treats. Famous for her perfectly balanced flavours and innovative combinations, she is also a previous 3 Star Great Taste Award winner.
“A grown up preserve that exudes quality and class,” was how the panel praised this year’s winner. “Really unusual, but it works superbly, with a perfect balance of flavours and generous chunks of fruit. A very clever product that could be dolloped generously on so many things from toast and crumpets to porridge and cakes. It’s a stunner.”
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best independent retailer
WINNER: Cedarbarn Farm Shop
Established on a family farm that was bought by Karl’s great grandparents in 1919, Cedarbarn Farm Shop and Café began as a small PYO strawberries business in 1995. Over the last 30 years it has become a destination in itself, with an award-winning shop and café, alongside a miniature railway and regular seasonal PYO events and even a dog walking field!
“Our winner provided a well-articulated entry which was abundantly backed up during the mystery shopping visit. It brings true Yorkshire values to its customers through their knowledgeable staff and abundance of local produce with provenance clearly identified. This business is a one-stop-shop of everything you need, strongly rooted in Yorkshire. There has clearly been a lot of thought put into using local suppliers alongside homegrown and reared produce which creates a fantastic combination of provenance and quality with top notch customer service to boot. Just fabulous!”
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best new business
WINNER: The Yorkshire Deli
“Brave and brilliant” was how our panel described this year’s Best New Business winner. With a clear commitment to supporting and championing the very best of the region and providing a fantastic experience for the customer throughout, this business is the culmination of 10 years of hard graft.
The Yorkshire Deli, based in Whitby, was founded by Janet and daughter Sorrel, joined soon after by son Ben, after over a decade of selling baked goods at food festivals, markets and events throughout the region. Their shop now showcases the best food and drink from over 50 Yorkshire suppliers.
As one judge noted, the only thing in here from outside Yorkshire would be some of the customers! Such an unexpected gem that puts Yorkshire produce and products front and centre.
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best use of local produce on a menu
WINNER: Elsworth at the Mill
Unique, original and memorable, Elsworth at The Mill, based on the edge of Skipton, certainly impressed this year’s panel with their menu, curated to showcase Yorkshire’s food stories, shine a light on suppliers and support many local businesses.
Run by Rebecca and Bruce Elsworth, the business opened in 2022 with the aim to create a versatile space that could be used for both daytime and evening occasions, from civil ceremonies and weddings to private parties and bespoke food and drink events.
The judges said: “This business has clearly demonstrated their passion for using locally sourced produce throughout, from their core menu to curated seasonal menus, their team passionately showcase local and hyper-local ingredients with innovation and flair, treating ingredients with respect and skill and creating a business that supports and champions the region.”
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best wholesaler
WINNER: Grandma Wilds
A well-known and well-loved brand with over 125 years’ experience of using locally sourced ingredients and traditional methods, this business is a true Yorkshire icon.
The judges were impressed with their forward-thinking approach, whilst still holding their original, core business values close. “This was an incredibly well-articulated entry. Modest but powerful, true and honest, and with very obvious strong family values. The care and importance they place on cultivating great long-term relationships with customers across their supply chain was evident throughout.”
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rising star
WINNER: Chris Hobson
The View Restaurant
This award looks to shine a light on emerging trailblazers and looks to honour someone with exceptional promise, recognising both the impact they’ve made and the brilliance their poised to bring to the future of their field.
This category had some phenomenal nominations, but the 2025 Champion Chris Hobson really stood out, with the judges saying: “The epitome of an emerging trailblazer, this person is already showing tremendous promise and having a significant impact in their chosen field.”
With early roots in pot wash before working his way through the ranks to head chef, his journey is built on hard work, talent and relentless determination. Chris is driven by a desire to constantly improve, learn and innovate. His creativity, passion and leadership set him apart as a well-deserved winner.
Chris’s attention to detail, along with a commitment to fresh, local and sustainable ingredients coupled with his drive, vision and talent, constantly pushing himself out of his comfort zone has helped make The View the most talked about restaurant in town.
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judy bell yorkshire food hero
WINNER: David Lishman
Master Butcher
A master butcher and stalwart of the food and drink industry in Yorkshire, David is already enjoying a stellar 2025 having been recently awarded the title of Britain’s Best Butchers Shop.
He started his butchery career back in 1986, after growing up on a farm in the Yorkshire Dales, he opened his much-loved butchers’ shop. Recognised for his expertise and passion for quality butchery, he’s been a Q Guild member for 25 years as well as a former regional and national chairman.
Representing both his industry and Yorkshire internationally as Captain on the British Butchery Triathlon in NZ and Australia, this year he was named Head Judge at the 2025 World Butchers Championships in Paris.
A brilliant ambassador and champion of Yorkshire’s rich food heritage, whether inspiring customers in his shop, sharing a pork pie with Princess Anne, enjoying a cheeky pint in the Houses of Parliament or representing his county and industry on the world stage, this person is a true Yorkshire Food Hero worthy of the name.
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supreme product champion
WINNER: Bondgate Bakery
Fruity Muesli Bread
The champion of champions! The Supreme Product Award is the judges’ stand-out product entry of the year, selected from the winners of each category at the end of judging week.
An Otley institution, Bondgate Bakery is built on an ethos of baking fantastic bread using traditional methods and this year’s Supreme Champion product is a real testament to that. For over 40 years they have strived to bake bread the way it used to be, using pure, unadulterated and locally sourced ingredients.
A fabulous product, a fantastic business, and a very worthy winner.