Cook it!: Brighton and Hove Food & Drink Awards announced
And the winner is …
The cream of the city’s hospitality scene joined together on Monday 6 October at Hotel du Vin to celebrate the finals of this year’s Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Awards, sponsored by PHS Group.
Over 2,500 members of the public nominated their favourite food and drink businesses in the city. At the end of June, the top three nominations in each category were passed to 26 judges who secret-shopped or interviewed the finalists, scoring each one to predefined judging criteria.
Best Food Pub went to The Ginger Pig in Hove, Best Family Dining went to East Street’s Terre à Terre. Michael Bremner of 64 Degrees won both Best Newcomer and the coveted Best Restaurant awards, whilst Henry Butler of Butler’s Wine Cellar claimed Food Hero. Best Sustainable Food Business went to hiSbe on York Place, and Twisted Lemon swept to success with Best Cocktail Bar.
The Special Recognition Award went to David Deaves of La Cave à Fromage for his ongoing support of the Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival, and his charitable work for Rockinghorse.
“2014 has been a great year for Brighton & Hove’s food and drink scene”, said food festival director and awards co-ordinator Nick Mosley. “With both the Chilli Pickle and 64 Degrees being awarded Michelin Bib Gourmands, and a host of recent openings such as Burger Brothers, Curry Leaf Café and hiSbe to name but a few, its a very exciting time to be eating and drinking here.
“All of our food award finalists really are at the top of their game, and they can all be very proud of what they are producing and the high esteem in which the public hold them. They are all winners.”
Brighton & Hove was voted number one restaurant and bar destination in the UK in the Conde Nast Traveller readers’ awards this summer, knocking London off the top spot for the first time.
The 2015 awards launch in spring next year, and any businesses interested in sponsoring a category – or being part of next year’s Spring Harvest food festival events in April and May – can contact the organisers on 01273 770044 or via the food festival website: www.brightonfoodfestival.com
RESULTS
Best Burger
Judged by Caraline Brown (Midnight Communications) and Alex Leith (Viva Brighton)
GOLD Burger Brothers
SILVER Trolls Pantry
BRONZE Grubbs
Best Café
Judged by Rachel Horner (Rosemary E Hensby Solicitors) and Hanna Campbell (Juice)
GOLD Iydea,
SILVER LangeLee’s
BRONZE Café Coho
Best Cocktail Bar
Judged by Sarah Thompson (Blackdown Spirits) and Sam Harrington-Lowe (Absolute)
GOLD Twisted Lemon
SILVER Valentinos
BRONZE Merkaba
Best Family Dining Venue
Judged by Sally Davis (Whizz Bang Pop) and Shoshana Plail (childfriendlybrighton.co.uk)
GOLD Terre á Terre,
SILVER Food for Friends, JOINT BRONZE Sabai Thai Gastrobar and Breeze Brasserie (four finalists in this category due to a tie on third place nominations)
Best Food/Drink Shop
Judged by Kate Goudy (Radio Cabs 204060) and Angi Mariani (Latest TV)
GOLD Taj
JOINT SILVER Butlers Wine Cellar and Infinity Foods store
Best Food Pub
Judged by Nadia Cowdrey (Griffith Smith Farrington Webb LLP, Solicitors) and Mark Ansell (Brighton & Hove Independent)
GOLD The Ginger Pig
SILVER The Lion & Lobster
BRONZE The Prince George
Best Pub
Judged by Bob Trimm (Harveys Brewery) and Susanna Forbes (Drink Britain)
GOLD The Basketmakers Arms
SILVER The Lion & Lobster
BRONZE Craft Beer Co.
Best Restaurant
Judged by Mardi Roberts (Ridgeview Wine Estate) and Andrew Kay (Latest)
GOLD 64 Degrees
JOINT SILVER Food for Friends and Terre á Terre
Best Sunday Lunch
Judged by Andrew Stenning (Searches UK) and Nick Harvey (Restaurants Brighton)
GOLD The Sussex Yeoman
SILVER The Lion & Lobster
BRONZE Food for Friends
Best Takeaway
Judged by Stuart Slark (Southern Water) and Euan MacDonald (60 Second Reviews)
GOLD The Chilli Pickle Canteen
SILVER Iydea
BRONZE Pizzaface
Food Hero
Judged by Gary Peters (brightonandhovejobs.com) and Sam Bilton (Sussex Style)
GOLD Henry Butler (Butlers Wine Cellar),
SILVER Michael Bremner (64 Degrees),
BRONZE Seb Cole (Boho Gelato)
Newcomer
Judged by Barry Carden (Cardens Accountants) and Duncan Hall (The Argus)
GOLD 64 Degrees
SILVER Curry Leaf Café
BRONZE Burger Brothers
Sustainable Food Business
Judged by Adam Style (Style Accountants) and Andrew Cheesman (Brighton Visitor)
GOLD hiSbe
SILVER Terre á Terre
BRONZE Infinity Foods store
Special Recognition Award
Judged by Clare Noble (PHS Group) and Nick Mosley (Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival)
WINNER David Deaves (La Cave à Fromage)
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