The best of Devon's food and drink producers, hospitality and catering businesses and speciality retailers joined together in eager anticipation for the announcement of this year's Food & Drink Devon Award winners.  The ceremony took place on Monday 5th October at Exeter Golf and Country Club and was hosted by food and drink broadcaster and BBC Radio 2's one and only Nigel Barden.  This year's highly esteemed award 'Best Producer' was presented to Dartmoor Farmers.

The impressive Prince Hall Hotel near Two Bridges on Dartmoor won the highly sought after 'Best Fine Dining Restaurant' after judges noted their exceptional local sourcing, impressive presentation and perfectly executed flavours. From the 41 'Hospitality' entries, winners of the other seven categories included Two Coast County who were victorious in the 'Best Take Away' category, A la Ronde in Exmouth who triumphantly won the 'Best Café' category and The Elizabethan, Luton who were proud winners of the 'Best Pub' category.  

Other 'Hospitality' winners were Pig on the Hill, Bideford who took home the highly sought after 'Best Gastro Pub' award, The Cove Café Bar, Hope Cove who had the honour of the 'Best Bistro' accolade, Broomhill Arts Hotel winners of the 'Best Hotel Restaurant' and The Crab Shed, Salcombe who won 'Best Restaurant'.          

The 'Best Retailer' award went to G.T. Orsman, whilst the 'Best Online Retailer' was awarded to The Well Hung Meat Company. 

Commenting on the Awards ceremony, Nigel, who specialises in promoting British ingredients and artisan producers, says:  “It has been a real privilege to present the Food & Drink Devon Awards and be a part of celebrating Devon's food and drink industry.  Devon is highly regarded nationwide for it's fabulous food and drink, and this has been clearly evident throughout the Awards' ceremony. It's also marvellous that many visitors are attracted to the county on a culinary pilgrimage.”

Barbara King, from the board of Food & Drink Devon comments: "It was fantastic to see so many innovative Devon food and drink producers and hospitality and retail establishments celebrating at the Food & Drink Devon Awards.  The Awards are now in their fifth year and have gone from strength to strength.  This year we have seen the widest variety yet of entrants from all over the county, with the highest number of award winners to date.”  Barbara continues: “All of us at Food & Drink Devon would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the winners for their superb achievements and thank Exeter Golf and Country Club and all of the sponsors for their support.” 

South Milton's Bell & Loxton fought off entries from 24 other producers to claim the 'Best Packaging' award for their seriously smart and immensely designed silver bottles of Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil.  Close runners up were Devon Distillery's DAPPA and Bays Brewery. 

During the judging of the 31 producers on the shortlist there were four particular products which really stood out amongst the crowd.  Bulleigh Elms Farm for their Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt Fudge, Clare's Preserves for their Mulled Cranberry Jelly, Chunk of Devon for their Chicken and Chorizo Pasty and Dartmoor Farmers for their 10oz Sirloin Steak all received a flawless 100% score and were awarded Platinum awards. 

To win a 'Gold' Award, products had to score an almost faultless 91% to 99% and Silvers were only given out to those scoring 85% - 90%.  Only 36 products won a 'Gold' and 32 a 'Silver'.  

During the black tie evening, guests enjoyed a welcome reception with Luscombe Drinks, Lyme Bay Winery and Bays Brewery drinks served, a three-course meal created from food and drink produced by Food & Drink Devon members, and a raffle and auction. 

Food & Drink Devon works tirelessly to increase the county's profile, both nationally and internationally.  Food & Drink Devon - 'Love the Flavour' represents a membership of like-minded businesses, dedicated to providing good quality local food and drink.  The Food & Drink Devon association is committed to continuously achieving its mission – to make 'Love the Flavour' a nationally recognised brand for outstanding sustainable food and drink.  

A special thank you goes to the proud sponsors of the Food & Drink Devon Awards including exclusive media sponsor taste buds, Hedgerow Print, Luscombe Drinks, The Venus Company, Stephens Scown Solicitors, BlinkBack, Warwick Events and Vu Online.  

For more information on Food & Drink Devon please visit www.lovetheflavour.co.uk and follow @lovetheflavour on Twitter.  A full list of winners can be found at the end of the release.

-ENDS-

Food & Drink Devon Awards Winners 2015

Best Producer: Dartmoor Farmers                     

Best Packaging: Bell & Loxton              

Hospitality

Best Fine Dining Restaurant: Prince Hall Hotel, near Two Bridges

Best Hotel Restaurant: Broomhill Art Hotel, Barnstaple

Best Restaurant: The Crab Shed, Salcombe                   

Best Bistro: The Cove Café Bar, Hope Cove                              

Best Gastro Pub: Pig on the Hill, Bideford

Best Pub: The Elizabethan, Luton                                   
Best Café: A la Ronde Tea Rooms, Exmouth

Best Takeaway:  Two Coast County

Retail

Best Retailer: G.T. Orsman                    
Best Online Retailer: The Well Hung Meat Company       

Platinum Awards
Bulleigh Elms Farm                   Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt Fudge

Clare's Preserves                      Mulled Cranberry Jelly

Chunk of Devon                         Chicken and Chorizo Pasty
Dartmoor Farmers                     10oz Sirloin Steak

Gold Awards

Luscombe Drinks                  Damascene Rose Bubbly

                                                Sicilian Lemonade

                                                Raspberry Crush

Cobley Farm Produce           Sausage Roll

Bell & Loxton                         Cold Press Rapeseed Oil

Waterhouse Fayre                 Red Onion Marmalade

                                                Whortleberry Jam

                                                Lemon Curd

Bulleigh Elms Farm Shop    Blackcurrant Jam

                                                Lemon Curd

Tideford Organics                 Organic Basil Pesto

Partridge Farm Meats           Grass Fed Aberdeen Angus Clod Steak

                                                Grass Fed Aberdeen Angus Feather Steaks

                                                Grass Fed Aberdeen Angus Sirloin Steak

                                                Dry Cured Pork Topside

M.C. Kelly                               Dry Aged Sirloin Steak

                                                 Moroccan Lamb Burger

Good Game                             Devon Black Coppa

                                                Devon Fire Chorizo

                                                Wild Venison and Pork Sausage

Eversfield Organic                 Organic Beef Rib Eye Steak

Dartmoor Farmers                  8oz Fillet Steak

Lyme Bay Winery                    Butterscotch Brandy Luxury Cream Liqueur

                                                  Bacchus Wine

Chunk of Devon                    Chunki Roast Vegetable Pasty

                                                Chunki Sausage Roll

                                                Cheddar & Onion Pasty

                                                Steak, Stilton & Mushroom Pie

                                                Homity Pie

Louise's Larder                        Gingered Fig and Rhubarb Chutney

Quickes Traditional                  Traditional Mature Cheddar

Salcombe Dairy                        Mango Sorbet

Sharpham Partnership             Sharpham Brie

Tom's Pies                               Steak & Ale Pie

Verney's Molton Ice                 Vanilla Dairy Ice Cream

Silver Awards

Eversfield Organic                Organic Beef Steak Mince

                                                Organic Lamb Loin Chop

M.C. Kelly                               Venison Roast

Good Game                            Wild Dartmoor Venison Salami

                                                Cooking Chorizo Sausage

                                                Devon Ruby Burger

                                                Game and Blueberry Pate

Tideford Organics                    Red Lentil Soup with Apricots & Chillies

Bulleigh Elms Farm Shop        Vanilla Fudge

Luscombe Drinks                     Lime Crush

Clare's Preserves                     Luxury Mincemeat with Somerset Cider Brandy

Georgie Porgie's Puddings      Traditional Christmas Pudding

Sabine Macarons                     Salted Caramel Macarons

                                                   Lemon Macarons

Devon Distillery                        DAPPA 2014

Tom's Pies                                Spiced Cauliflower, Spinach and Lentil Pie

                                                   Chicken and Wild Mushroom Pie

Hunter's Brewery                      Pheasant Plucker

                                                    Crackshot

                                                    Black Jack

Favis of Salcombe                   100% Handpicked Brown Crab Meat

South Hams Brewery                Devon Pride

                                                   Wild Blonde

Lyme Bay Winery                     Lyme Bay Sparkling Cider

                                                 Damson Reserve Liqueur

Clive's Pies                              Gluten Free Homity Pie

Quickes Traditional                  Traditional Vintage Cheddar

Redyeates Farm                       Rondo 2012 Wine 

Salcombe Crab Traders            White Crab Meat

Sharpham Partnership             Sparkling Pink 2010

South Devon Chilli Farm          Madagascar 70% Dark Chilli Chocolate

Truly Treats                              Toffee Apple Crumble

For further information, photography or an interview with Barbara King, please contact:

Hayley Reynolds at RAW PR and Marketing - hayley@rawprandmarketing.co.uk; 

Telephone: 01548 550 429 / 07887 474 104

Twitter: @HayleyJReynolds / @RawSW