Coventry & Warwickshire Foodie Awards

Competition hotting up as fine dining chefs take part in Foodie Awards cook-off

Posted on June 8, 2022June 8, 2022 by admin

Coventry & Warwickshire Foodie Awards, cook-off, Paul Foster, Ellen Manning — *From left:* Tobias Reutt, Colm Jones, Paul Foster, Ellen Manning and Sam Barnett.

The heat was on for three local chefs who competed in a Cook Off this week for the Coventry & Warwickshire Foodie Awards.

Tobias Reutt, of Earlsdon Supper Club, Colm Jones of The Green Dragon and Sam Barnett of The Loft, all in Coventry, had one hour to prepare a dish of their choice in their bid for the title of Fine Dining Chef of the Year.

These dishes were then judged, at The Farm in Snitterfield on Tuesday, by Michelin Star chef Paul Foster, of Salt in Stratford and Warwickshire food blogger and journalist Ellen Manning.

Paul Foster’s successful career has so far earned him a Michelin star, three AA rosettes, a place in the top 50 UK restaurants in The Good Food Guide and has been awarded Observer Food Monthly ‘Young Chef of the Year’ and The Good Food Guide ‘Best Up and Coming Chef’ award.

The winner will be among those revealed at the Foodie Awards ceremony at The Box at Coventry’s Fargo Village, on Thursday (June 16^th). The second Awards, being run in partnership with Visit Coventry and Visit Warwickshire, focuses on quality, service and innovation with an emphasis on farm to fork, including best artisan food and drink producers, farm shop, independent food and drink retailer, newcomer, street food trader and chef or cook of the year.

New categories this year will also recognise Foodie Start-up, Fine Dining Restaurant and the International Taste Award. And the finalists in the Casual Dining Chef of the Year category will compete in front of a live crowd at this weekend’s Pub In The Park event in Warwick, judged by Former British Bake-off winner Candice Brown and food and drink broadcaster and champion Nigel Barden

Coventry & Warwickshire Foodie Awards, cook-off, Paul Foster, Ellen Manning, Tobias Reutt — Tobias Reutt talks judge Paul Foster through his recipe.

Paul Foster said: “I’m always looking for the same things when I judge a competition, first and foremost is execution and seasoning and then technique, but the most important thing is how it tastes. What have they done with the ingredients, are they seasonal, and the presentation.

“There’s been some really intersting dishes today, a diverse mix of cuisines and standards. There’s been some really well executed techniques and there are some things that need some improvement but I think the point of this competition is not just winning it, it’s so the chefs will learn from this and can grow. It was tough to come to a decision. I didn’t know what to expect and I’ve been pleasantly surprised.

“It’s a really positive awards. It’s great for the area, great for the local food community to show how diverse it is, to celebrate and for people to network as well.”

Fellow judge Ellen Manning said: “It was a real privilege to be involved in the judging of the cook-off and to see some of our great chefs doing what they do best. The Foodie Awards is a great way for our wonderful local restaurants to show off what they do and the talented teams behind them, so to be there in person alongside one of our area’s most lauded chefs and restaurateurs was a real treat.

“As Paul said, competitions like this aren’t just about winning, but about raising the bar when it comes to the quality of the food scene in Coventry and Warwickshire, and I look forward to seeing all of the finalists go from strength to strength.”

Tobias Reutt is hoping he can take the title for the second year running with his duck breast recipe. He said: “I’ve practised this dish quite a few times. It embodies how far I’ve come as a chef. It’s a real privilege to be a finalist again. “It’s been a crazy year after winning last year and I would definitely encourage chefs to enter these awards.”

Colm Jones, who chose to cook a Rainbow Trout dish, said: “I was very surprised to be selected for the finals and it’s good to see it’s all Coventry boys. I’m up against some very good chefs.”

Coventry & Warwickshire Foodie Awards, Jonathan Smith, Ellen Manning, Paul Foster — Sam Barnett and judge Ellen Manning.

Sam Barnett, who has been heading up the kitchen at The Loft since it opened just a few months ago, said: “My boss entered me into the competition and didn’t tell me but I was very happy when I found out I made the finals. I’ve never done anything like this before but I’m all for challenging yourself. It’s exciting to be a part of it.

“It’s nice to be back here because I’ve been away for so long and hopefully we can get a good name for the city.”

The Foodie Awards will once again be raising money for The Trussell Trust network of eight food banks in Coventry and Warwickshire.

For the full list of finalists visit here

@foodieaward

Finalists unveiled for Coventry & Warwickshire Foodie Awards 2022

Posted on May 30, 2022 by admin

Coventry & Warwickshire Foodie Awards, Paul Foster, Candice Brown, Visit Coventry — Nadhim Zahawi MP and Sarah Windrum Chair of Coventry and Warwickshire LEP

THE finalists in the second Coventry and Warwickshire Foodie Awards have been unveiled.

The Foodie Awards 2022, in partnership with Visit Coventry and Visit Warwickshire, is a celebration of the best of the region’s food and drink scene.

More than 50 food and drink businesses across the region will now come under the scrutiny of a panel of judges made up of some of the top names in the industry, including Michelin Star chef Paul Foster, of Salt in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Finalists were chosen from 17 categories that focus on quality, service and innovation with an emphasis on farm to fork, including best artisan food and drink producers, farm shop, independent food and drink retailer, newcomer, street food trader and chef or cook of the year.

All the finalists are now invited to an awards ceremony at The Box at Fargo Village, Coventry on June 16th.

The winners of the Fine Dining and Casual Dining categories will be decided at exclusive cook-off events judged by Paul Foster in June.

Former Bake-off winner Candice Brown and food and drink broadcaster and champion Nigel Barden will judge the Best Casual Dining Chef during a live cook-off on the demo stage at Pub In The Park event on June 12^th

Candice Brown said: “I’m delighted to be judging the final of Coventry & Warwickshire Foodie Awards at Warwick Pub In The Park. It’s so great to have a local initiative involved and a fantastic way to see the local cooking talent out there. I’m looking forward to crowning the next Best Casual Dining winner.”

Paul Jones, of Visit Coventry, said: “Visit Coventry is thrilled to be supporting the Foodie Awards for the second year. We are delighted with the response to the Food Hero/Community Award and would like to thank all those who voted for the winner of this category. We appreciate that these are exceptionally challenging times for all businesses right now and, we hope the Food Hero/Community Award will shine a light on those businesses who have gone above and beyond to help support their local community.”

New categories this year also recognise Foodie Start-up, Fine Dining Restaurant and Fine Dining Chef of the Year as well as the International Taste Award.

Foodie Awards Founder Jonathan Smith, of Talk Business UK, said: ”With the Foodie Awards only in its second year, we are thrilled with the response from all the food, drink and hospitality businesses that have taken part in numbers far exceeding those of last year. The quality and diversity of the entries from those businesses and individuals from across Coventry and Warwickshire will make the final judging extremely hard.”

The Awards will once again be raising money for The Trussell Trust network of eight food banks in Coventry and Warwickshire.

All finalists will be invited to a Finalists’ Night on Monday (June 6^th) at Zach’s Barn, Hilltop Farm Shop.

Nadhim Zahawi Stratford MP and Secretary of State for Education, has also lent his support to the awards. He said: “I’m delighted to support the Foodie Awards that promote the food and drink sector in this region but want to say a big thank you and wish special good luck to those finalists who are engaged with the training and development of the next generation of workers and business owners across the Food and Drink sector.”

For further information or to enter the Food Hero Award, visit here

Finalists

Food and Drink Experience Award:

Dough and Brew – Warwick

Enchanted Tea Room – Leamington

Culinary Bites – Coventry

Young Foodie Award:

Pasta Brothers – George Carter, Leamington

Delicious Greek Gyros – Coventry

Veg Food Enthusiast – Katie Todd, Henley-in-Arden

Foodie Startup Award:

St Maur – Alcester

Cureights – Warwick

Trof – Leamington

The Castle and Gin School, Edgehill

Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year Award:

The Loft – Coventry

Turmeric Gold – Coventry

The Green Dragon – Coventry

Fine Dining Chef of the Year Award:

Sam Barnett – The Loft, Coventry

Tobias Reutt – Earlsdon Supper Club, Coventry

Colm Jones – The Green Dragon, Coventry

Best Casual Dining Establishment Award:

Dough and Brew – Warwick

Metropolis Bar and Restaurant – Coventry

Sky Blue Tavern – Coventry

Best Casual Dining Chef Award:

Adam Cherrington – Head Honcho Hacienda, Leamington

Sophie Hyam – Culinary Bites, Coventry

Naldo Sheffield – Shefs Food Services, Coventry

International Taste Award Award:

The Cork and Tile – Stratford

Bib Noodle Bar – Coventry

El Greco -Stratford

Farm Shop of the year Award:

The Farm – Stratford

Farmers Fayre – Kenilworth

Hilltop Farm Shop -Leamington

Artisan Drink Producer Award:

St Maur – Alcester

Napton Cidery – Napton-on-the-Hill

Dhillons Brewery – Coventry

Brubl Brewery – Leamington

Artisan Food Producer Award:

Vittle and Smoke -Southam

Little Prince Cakery – Leamington

Prices Spices – Leamington

Bluebell Cottage – Stratford

Independent Food or Drink Retailer of the Year Award:

Lola Provisions – Leamington

Aubrey Allen – Leamington

Wicked Cookies – Coventry

The Best Cafe or Coffee Shop Award:

Forrest Coffee House – Kenilworth

Jacks Shack – Warwick

Esquires Coffee – Coventry

Bumbles Coffee House- Studley

The Best Pub or Bar Award:

Twisted barrel Brewery and Tap House – Coventry

The Coach House – Stratford

Dhillons Brewery – Coventry

The Star and Garter – Leamington

The Street Food Trader of the Year Award:

Boxx ‘n Bar – Coventry

Street Chef – Coventry and West Midlands

Feed Fried Chicken – Coventry

Employee of the Year Award:

Kay Dawson – The Farm Stratford

Katie Underhill – Dough and Brew, Warwick

Kevin Prior – Metropolis Bar and Restaurant, Coventry

Food Hero/Community Award:

Langar Aid Project – Coventry

Metropolis Bar and Restaurant – Coventry

The Pod Café – Coventry

Helping Hands – Leamington

Finham Park 2- Coventry

Social media votes for this category, sponsored by Visit Coventry, are still being counted.

Final days to enter second Coventry & Warwickshire Foodie Awards

Posted on April 29, 2022 by admin

Coventry & Warwickshire Foodie Awards, Paul Foster, Glynn Purnell, — Foodies organiser Jonathan Smith of Talk Business UK at last year’s inaugural event

TIME is running out to enter The Coventry & Warwickshire Foodie Awards, which returns to celebrate the best of the region’s food and drink scene – with the backing of two celebrity Michelin Star chefs.

The Awards, in partnership with Visit Coventry and Visit Warwickshire, will culminate in a ceremony at The Box at Fargo Village, Coventry in June.

Entrants will be showcasing their talents to judges, including some of the top names in the industry, including chef Paul Foster who runs Salt, in Stratford-upon-Avon and the returning ‘Yummy Brummie’ Glynn Purnell who this year opened The Mount in Henley-on-Arden.

Purnell, who has trained with Gordon Ramsay, Gary Rhodes and Claude Bosi, is also the owner of two restaurants in Birmingham, one of which was awarded a Michelin Star in 2009 and is a regular on TV’s Saturday Kitchen.

Both chefs will be among those deciding on winners in several categories that focus on quality, service and innovation with an emphasis on farm to fork, including best artisan food and drink producers, farm shop, independent food and drink retailer, newcomer, street food trader and chef or cook of the year.

Paul Foster said: “We are very fortunate in Warwickshire to have a thriving food scene backed up by incredible suppliers, the foodie awards are a great way to celebrate what’s great about our area.”

New categories this year will also recognise Foodie Start-up, Fine Dining Restaurant and Fine Dining Chef of the Year as well as the International Taste Award.

The project brings together the creative minds behind Talk Business UK, Coventry BID and Visit Coventry, to champion the hospitality industry across the region.

Foodie Awards Founder Jonathan Smith, of Talk Business UK, said: “With just two weeks to go before entries into this year’s Foodie Awards for Coventry and Warwickshire close, we are thrilled to have the support of local food hero and Michelin Star chef Paul Foster of Salt in Stratford-upon-Avon, who has agreed to be a judge for the Fine Dining Chef of the Year category, which will take place at the Cookery School at The Farm in Stratford.

“We have been inspired by the entries we have received so far into all of the award categories and look forward to having them all assessed and the finalists chosen for the next stage and the Awards presentation event.

“The Foodie Awards shine a spotlight on the Food and Drink sector and give recognition to all those who work so hard across this sector to give us all wonderful eating and drinking experiences.”

The Foodie Awards will once again be raising money for The Trussell Trust network of eight food banks in Coventry and Warwickshire.

All finalists will be invited to a Finalists’ Night on June 6^th at a venue to be announced.

The winners of the Fine Dining and Casual Dining categories will be decided at exclusive cook-off events in June. Paul Foster and Glynn Purnell will also be joined by BBC’s Junior Bake Off judge Rav Gill to judge the Best Casual Dining Chef during a live cook-off on the demo stage at Pub In The Park event on the weekend of June 11/12^th

Meanwhile, Fine Dining Chef of the Year will be decided at a cook-off at The Farm Cookery School on June 7^th.

Entries close for nominations in all categories on May 15^th but any businesses interested in becoming sponsors are still invited to get in touch via: hello@foodieawards.co.uk

For further information and to enter, visit here

Categories are:

Farm Shop
Artisan Drink Producer
Artisan Food Producer
Independent Food/Drink Retailer
Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year
Fine Dining Chef of the Year
Best Casual Dining Establishment
Best Casual Dining Chef
Pub or Bar of the Year
Employee of the Year
Best Food/Drink Experience
Young Foodie of the Year
Food Hero/Community Award
Foodie Start-up (Business started in the last 12 months)
International Taste Award
Street Food Trader of the Year
Café/Coffee Shop of the Year
Coventry BID Award (exclusive to Coventry) – Sponsored by Coventry BID

Businesses taste success at first Foodie Awards

Posted on August 3, 2021 by admin

AN evening of celebration shone a light on some of the region’s best hospitality businesses in the finals of the first ever Coventry & Warwickshire Foodie Awards recently.

Coventry & Warwickshire Foodie Awards — Gordon Mazvihwa, Dal Dillhon and Kevin Sandhu of Dhillon’s Brewery

In partnership with Warwickshire County Council, Coventry BID and Visit Coventry, the first live local awards event since lockdown brought together more than 40 businesses on July 22nd vying for success across 15 food and drink categories.

The finalists had previously come under the scrutiny of a judging panel, including celebrity chef Glynn Purnell. And earlier in the month the ‘Yummy Brummie’ was joined by his former boss Andreas Antona, owner of The Cross in Kenilworth to preside over a cook-off to find the Chef of the Year.

The panel also consisted of Russell Allen, managing director of award-winning butcher Aubrey Allen; entrepreneur, investor and speaker John Stapleton and food influencer Chris Hardy AKA ‘The Fat Foodie’, as well as Foodie Awards committee members.

Two of the headline winners of the night were The Barn Kitchen, formerly of Binley Woods, which was named Foodie Champion, and Dhillon’s Brewery in Coventry which enjoyed triple awards success with: Artisan Drink Producer of the Year; Pub/Bar of the Year and The Godiva Award.

Kelly Iles and her team at The Barn Kitchen cooked more than 96,000 meals for frontline NHS workers over 100 days as well as sweet treats later on in the pandemic. Kelly, who now runs The Enchanted Tea Room in Leamington, dedicated the award to her late father who succumbed to Covid in January this year.

She said: “We were delighted to win this award after the most challenging 18 months in hospitality, but we felt that the need to step up to the plate was greater than that to save our business so our small deed to feed the NHS soon became a mammoth project. The frontline staff are the real heroes and we would like to dedicate our award to them as well as my Dad Ricky Perkins who would have been so proud to see us win.”

Reacting to a successful night for Dhillon’s Brewery, Trish Willetts, Director of Coventry BID and award sponsor, said: “The Coventry Brewery have their brewing facility by the CBS Arena, and took their first city centre unit during lockdown restrictions in early 2021. They opened in the Christchurch Spire, one of Coventry’s three iconic Spires, and have gone from strength to strength.

“During the same time the team turned their brewery into a hand sanitising manufacturing unit to help with the battle of the virus supplying city centre businesses. Now they are embarking on their second bar which will be the Coventry City Tavern, a sports bar due to open on the outskirts of the city centre in August, with sponsorship from Coventry’s very own football team. They hit adversity in the eyes and kept on, keeping on!”

Picking up one of the other special gongs, The Covid Resilience Award, was the mother and daughter team behind Hooray’s British Gelato Kitchen in Stratford-upon-Avon, Sara Young and Sasha Burke.

Sara said: “After an extremely difficult year we were thrilled to be recognised for this award. Like all small business owners at the beginning of the pandemic, the knowledge that there was no way we could service our debts or meet the financial commitments of our business, not to mention pay our staff or ourselves in the coming weeks, let alone months, was sickening.

“During the past 18 months we have had to diversify and adapt our business, as have many other hospitality venues. Being forced to develop a new way forward will hopefully not only mean the continuation but the growth of our business.”

Other Warwickshire winners included Warwick Street Kitchen in Leamington which was named Café/Coffee Shop of the Year.

Owner Lydia Papaphilippopoulos–Snape, said: “The Foodie Awards was a much-needed celebration of the local hospitality industry so to be honoured with the win means a lot to us. The entire WSK team is super chuffed and humbled to be able to bring the award home – here’s to another year of serving our amazing community!”

Teenager George Carter from Bishops Tachbrook established Pasta Brothers at the start of the first lockdown after his GCSEs were cancelled. Today he is winning awards.

Collecting the Best Newcomer Award, he said: “I was so bored and demotivated that I decided to combine my love for cooking Italian food with my desire to make money and I started Pasta Brothers in May 2020. What began as a hobby selling to family and friends grew quickly to the business it is today.

“There are some incredibly talented people in Coventry and Warwickshire and it was an honour to be among them all at FarGo Village during the awards on Thursday evening.”

Price’s Spices in Leamington scooped two awards for Artisan Food Producer of the Year and Express to Success (joint winner with Swirls Gelato, of Leamington.)

Owner Michael Price said: “These awards acknowledge the hard work that goes into making the products and running the business. Being part of the Foodie Awards shows the strength and diversity of independent food businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire and how well supported they are by people in the region.

“By also winning the ‘Express to Success’ award this gives us great confidence that our product range is ready for a wider audience.”

Farm Shop of the Year was awarded to Hilltop Farm Shop and Cafe in Leamington.

Farm Shop Manager Lotte Ellis said: “It is so wonderful to be recognised as leaders in championing all things local and for the judges to appreciate our farm to fork ethos. The award night was a brilliant showcase of lots of great local businesses and there was some tough competition, so it meant an awful lot to win this one!

“It’s been a really tough time for everyone over the past 18 months and our Farm Shop has really thrived as people have chosen to shop local and take a greater interest in where their food comes from, so we have loved being able to reach more people and reduce food miles for many.”

Jessica Mooney collected the Food or Drink Experience Award for her artisan breadmaking school Bread for Life, in Leamington. Reacting to the award, she said: “I’m absolutely thrilled.”

But it was a Coventry business that beat off strong opposition to claim the prestigious Restaurant of the Year award, marking the 20^th anniversary for Turmeric Gold in Spon Street.

Owner Jay Alam said: “We are absolutely thrilled. It’s a tremendous accolade which is all the more meaningful as we are this year celebrating our 20^th year in business.

“We have always taken pride in not only delivering the highest quality of service, but having the ability to evolve to ensure we meet the ever changing needs of our customers, but never losing sight of our commitment to providing the ultimate dining experience.

Jay was also a finalist in the Chef/Cook of the Year category which was eventually won by Tobias Reutt who runs Earlsdon Supper Club.

Tobias, who has only been operating for two years, said: “I’m over the moon. The awards have provided an impressive platform for the industry. We’ve already started arranging collaborations with several finalists for ESC at Home experiences, so keep your eyes peeled.”

Independent Business of the Year was awarded to Proof Bakery in Coventry.

Founded to help refugee women learn professional baking skills and find steady employment, they also offer business deliveries and run popular bread-making workshops for the public.

Chernise Neo, owner, said: “We are completely over the moon! This award is a real encouragement following the many pandemic pivots of the last 15 months. A pat on the back to our whole team including our refugee bakers and a nod towards the ways that independent food businesses contribute to their local economy and community.”

Coventry-based Stripclub Streetfood claimed the headlines in the Best Streetfood category. Owner Tom Hope said: “This is an amazing achievement for us and it’s great to be recognised for the journey we’ve had thus far. The recognition means such a lot for a small independent company like ours.”

The all-new Coventry & Warwickshire Foodie Awards are the result of 18 months of planning for the committee, a partnership between Talk Business UK, Coventry BID, Visit Coventry, Eat With Ellen and Chalmers News PR.

Jonathan Smith, of Talk Business UK, said: “I’m both relieved and inspired to have finally been able to host the first Foodie Awards and welcome all the finalists, supporters and guests to celebrate their amazing achievements from the last 18 months.

“It’s fair to say that, after a series of postponements, at times we had our doubts about whether it could even happen, but all the organisers felt strongly that it would be a much-needed boost to the industry as it emerged from a very difficult time, so we were determined to adapt and push on.

“A big thank you as well to all our sponsors, without whom the night would not have been such a huge success – Visit Coventry (Coventry City Council); Visit Warwickshire (Warwickshire County Council); CW LEP; Comesto; Aubrey Allen; BID Coventry; NFU Mutual Central Warwickshire and Warwickshire College Group. Now bring on Foodie Awards 2022!”

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for tourism at Coventry City Council said, “I was delighted to see so many businesses represented at the awards – they did our thriving food and drink sector proud. They gave a real boost to the hospitality sector in Coventry and Warwickshire and at just the right time. It’s been a tough year, but the awards ceremony reminded us that there’s great food and drink in our high street names, our independents and our new businesses.”

The event, which was hosted at The Box at Coventry’s FarGo Village, also raised more than £1,000 for the nominated charity, The Trussell Trust network of eight foodbanks in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Samantha Stapley, chief operating officer at the Trussell Trust, said: “The support of the Foodie Awards will help food banks within our network continue to provide the lifeline of emergency support for local people in crisis, while we work in the long term to build a hunger-free future.

“As the pandemic continues, more people are likely to need a food bank’s help. Food bank teams are working tirelessly to ensure help continues to be available.”

Organiser and compere Jonathan Smith of Talk Business UK.

Look out soon for news of the opening date for entries to the Foodie Awards 2022. Or keep an eye on the website at: www.foodieawards.co.uk

New Foodie Awards category set to find next star food and drink brand for pubs and restaurants

Posted on May 10, 2021May 10, 2021 by admin

A NEW addition to the inaugural Foodie Awards for Coventry and Warwickshire is set to find the next superstar food or drink brand for hospitality.

The Express to Success Award, sponsored by digital wholesale supply platform Comesto, will identify a producer or business that could be the next star brand for pubs and restaurants and support them in their growth.

Started by experts in the sector, Stratford-upon-Avon-based Comesto was born out of a desire to support smaller premium food and drink brands and find a faster, more cost-effective alternative to the traditional wholesale model for both brands and trade buyers in independent and group-owned outlets.

The announcement of the company’s special award in the programme comes alongside support from the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) for the most heavily-contested category, the Newcomer Award.

The new Foodie Awards 2021, in partnership with Visit Coventry and Warwickshire County Council, is a celebration of the best of the region’s food and drink scene, culminating in an event in Coventry in July when the winners are announced.

The latest addition to the awards programme, the Express to Success Award, will not only seek to find the next big brand set to take the hospitality sector by storm, but will give that business the chance to take advantage of support from Comesto to accelerate their growth and put them on the national stage.

All relevant entries already submitted to the awards will be considered for the Express to Success Award, but any additional entries can be submitted via the Foodie Awards website until June 30th. The winner will receive:

A place on the Comesto shop with a free business profile.
Free storage of a range of products for a year (worth £200) in the main Comesto warehouse and a reduced commission fee (worth up to £1,000) on all items sold.
A chance to take part in live tasting events and promotional videos working with other Comesto brands directed at hospitality buyers in golf resorts and other premium sport venues.
A promotional in-depth article in the Comesto magazine delivered to over 5,000 hospitality buyers.
A free tune-up and advice session from a top local social marketing expert.

Comesto co-founder Valentine Smith said: “We were really keen to get involved in the new Foodie Awards because the ambition it offers for the region ties in so much with what we want Comesto to offer. Coventry and other urban centres have a growing reputation for innovative and exciting food and drink venues alongside the more established offer of quality pubs and restaurants in Stratford, South Warwickshire and across the North Cotswolds.

“The awards aim to promote the best of these alongside the best regional food and drink producers and if the end result is that, assisted by businesses like ours, our local councils, the CWLEP and other business bodies, we connect these together, this has to be good news for both the local economy and the reputation of our region.”

Among the awards categories are the Best Newcomer award, which recognises businesses started within 18 months of the awards ceremony in July and is supported by the CWLEP.

Sarah Windrum, Chair of the CWLEP, said: “These awards fit in with my priorities as new CWLEP chair which are focused on innovation since it is vital we push the economy forward by creating skilled jobs for the short and long-term; encourage young people; and concentrate on our town and city centres which will be influenced by the digital industry.

“It has not been an easy time to launch a new business, particularly in the hospitality and leisure sector, which has been severely affected by the pandemic.

“The Strategic Reset Framework which has been launched by the CWLEP is focused on creating the right environment for enterprise and innovation and all the finalists in the Best Newcomer category have certainly shown plenty of that as well as helping to boost the local economy.”

Finalists for the majority of the Foodie Awards categories, including the Newcomer Award, were announced in March. They will go on to be judged by some of the biggest food and drink names in the region, including chef Glynn Purnell; Andreas Antona, owner of The Cross in Kenilworth; and Russell Allen, managing director of Aubrey Allen.

Entries also recently closed for three special awards recognising businesses and individuals who went above and beyond during the COVID pandemic – the COVID-19 Resilience Award backed by Visit Coventry; Food Champion Award and The Godiva Award, sponsored by Coventry BID.

Winners will be announced at an event in Coventry on July 22nd, which will also act as a curtain-raiser to the return of Coventry BID’s ‘Big Foodie Weekend’, which aims to host the largest selection of artisan food producers in the region and will be headlined by Michelin Star chef Theo Randall and TV chef Lesley Waters, as well as offering musical acts including M People’s Heather Small and ex-Spice Girl Melanie C.

The Foodie Awards will also be raising money for The Trussell Trust network of eight food banks in Coventry and Warwickshire.