Champagne corks were popping across Herriot Country last Friday as the winners of the Flavours of Herriot awards were finally announced.
Each of the 13 categories of the Flavours of Herriot Country Awards, sponsored by The Herriot Country Tourism Group and Wensleydale Creamery with support from Welcome to Yorkshire, was hotly-contested this year with nominations flooding in from across the region, from Hawes and Great Ayton to Richmond and Beningbrough.
The ceremony, held at Thirsk Racecourse, was hosted by BBC Radio York’s Jules Bellerby, who introduced guest speakers Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, and Jim Wight, son of the renowned Yorkshire vet-turned-author James Herriot.
‘Shop and eat closer to home and you’re investing in local communities, rejecting the idea of identikit high streets, and playing a delicious role in local life,’ said Jules, summing up the philosophy of the awards.’
‘Our aim is to highlight those special shops and cafes, unique breweries, hotels, farm shops and butchers that offer one-to-one personal service and those little extra touches that are often missing in the chains and multiples.’
Among the key winners were The Carpenters Arms in Felixkirk, which scooped the coveted Restaurant of the Year title.
The judges found it difficult to fault this traditional village inn, saying: ‘It oozes charm from the moment you walk in. With local produce and top notch customer service in abundance, it’s a place that has provenance and passion at its heart.’
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “Here we have some fine examples of Yorkshire’s great food and drink providers and these awards help recognise their efforts. Each and every winner should be very proud.”
The winners in full
:: Breakfast of the Year (sponsored by Sweet Moments, Northallerton)
Wensleydale Heifer, Leyburn
:: Tearoom of the Year (sponsored by Barkers of Northallerton)
Berry’s Farm Shop & Cafe, near Leyburn
:: Best Attraction Catering (sponsored by Bow House)
Black Sheep Brewery, Masham
:: Best Village/Farm Shop (sponsored by Provenance Inns)
Home Farm, Beningbrough
:: Specialist Retailer of the Year (sponsored by The Pantry, Thirsk)
The Little Chocolate Shop, Leyburn
:: Foods of the World (sponsored by Raj of India)
Saffron Indian, Leyburn
:: Drinks Producer of the Year (sponsored by Grand Central Railway)
Wensleydale Brewery, Leyburn
:: Restaurant of the Year (sponsored by Figs Catering)
The Carpenters Arms, Felixkirk
:: Butcher of the Year (sponsored by The Vale of Mowbray, Northallerton)
Johnsons of Thirsk
:: Food Producer of the Year (sponsored by Absolutely Food PR & Marketing)
The Sawley Kitchen, Ripon
:: Dining Pub of the Year (sponsored by Black Sheep Brewery)
The Carlton Inn, Husthwaite
:: Readers’ Choice Award (sponsored by the Darlington & Stockton Time)
Stamps Coffee Shop, Great Ayton
:: Outstanding Achievement Award (sponsored by Lewis & Cooper)
Malcolm Warne, editor of the Darlington & Stockton Times