The Dorset Food, Drink & Farming Awards took place on Thursday 27th September at The Italian Villa.
These awards are organised by Dorset Magazine, whose greatest passion is the food and drink produced in this county, and the farms that produce it. The awards are designed to showcase the great and the good in Dorset, and reward the hardworking people behind them, including suppliers and producers, small farming businesses, chefs, restaurants, pubs and hoteliers.
Read more about the night in our interviews with the winners, supported by Old Mill here:
Dorset’s food and drink success – Dorset Food, Drink & Farming Awards.
As the Headline Sponsors for these awards we want to congratulate all the finalists and winners!
BEST RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Westchem
WINNER: The Ollerod, Beaminster
The White Post, Rimpton
Yalbury Cottage, Lower Bockhampton
BEST DRINK PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Saffery Champness
WINNER: Langham Wine Estates, Crawthorne
Cerne Abbas Brewery, Cerne Abbas
The Dorset Ginger Company, Lytchett Matravers
BEST PRODUCT/PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Porter Dodson
WINNER: Dorset Blue Vinny, Stock Gaylard
Great British Biscotti Company, Christchurch
Hotch Potch, Sturminster Newton
BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by FLAG
WINNER: Storm Fish Restaurant, Poole
Les Enfant Terribles Restaurant, Weymouth
SeaBeats Café & Bistro, Weymouth
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Kingston Maurward
WINNER: Alex Naik, Abbots Court, Winterborne Kingston
Chris Staines, The Ollerod, Beaminster
Robert Ndungu, The Acorn Inn, Evershot
BEST TEA/COFFEE SHOP OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Clipper Tea
WINNER: Finca, Dorchester
Cotea, Bournemouth
The Scented Botanist at Keyneston Mill, Tarrant Keyneston
CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD
Sponsored by Beales Gourmet
WINNER: Webster Family Butchers, Bournemouth
Crab Apple Catering, Swanage
Steeptonbill Farm Shop, Milton Abbas
ECO CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Litter Free
WINNER: Waste Not Want Not, Bridport
Baboo Gelato, Bridport
Cariad Wholefoods, Blandford Forum
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Dorset Growth Hub
WINNER: Oli Perron, Lunch’d, Bournemouth
Chrissy & Karl Regler, From Dorset with Love, Blandford Forum
Ollie Grubb & Lorna Bowmer, Ministry of Fudge, Christchurch
INDEPENDENT RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Fiona Penny at Sunflowers
WINNER: Gold Hill Organic Farm Shop, Child Okeford
Jurassic Coast Farm Shop, Winfrith Newburgh
The Wobbly Cottage, Broadwindsor
BEST PUB OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Hall & Woodhouse
WINNER: The Acorn Inn, Evershot
The Anchor Inn, Seatown
The Three Horseshoes, Burton Bradstock
DOG FRIENDLY AWARD
Sponsored by Dave Cumber Vets
WINNER: BearKat Bistro, Bridport
Seventhwave Café, Swanage
Under the Greenwood Tree Café, Lower Bockhampton
BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Lester Aldridge
WINNER: The Pig on the Beach, Studland
Seasons Restaurant at The Eastbury, Sherborne
Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Evershot
2018 FOOD & DRINK HERO
Sponsored by Dorset Food & Drink
MICHAEL DAVIES, DORSET BLUE VINNY
Dorset is renowned for its top-notch produce and the passion of the people who work in the industry, and we are extremely proud to be part of this.