Finalists of the Food and Drink Awards
Votes from hundreds of residents have been counted for St Albans & Harpenden Food & Drink Awards 2015, and St Albans Council has announced the shortlist.
The awards are organised by St Albans City and District Council with the support of an independent steering group of advisors.
The finalists chosen by residents’ votes are:
Best Bar
• Dylan's at the Kings Arms, George Street, St Albans
• Mokoko Cocktail Bar & Grill, Verulam Road, St Albans
• The Snug, French Row, St Albans
Best Independent Food/Drink Shop
• BEER:shop, London Road, St Albans
• Buongiorno Italia, Lattimore Road, St Albans
• Parker & Vine, Leyton Road, Harpenden
Best Café
• Barrisimo, St Peter's Street, St Albans
• Canteen, George Street, St Albans
• Bakehouse, Heritage Close, St Albans
Best Newcomer
• Craft & Cleaver, Catherine Street, St Albans
• Dylan's at the Kings Arms, George Street, St Albans
• The Great Northern, London Road, St Albans
Best Local Producer
• Hedges Farm Shop, St Albans
• Farr Brew, Harpenden
• Redbournbury Mill, Redbourn
Best Local Restaurant
• Dylan's at the Kings Arms, George Street, St Albans
• Lussmanns Fish & Grill Restaurant, St Albans
• THOMPSON @ Darcy's, Hatfield Road, St Albans
Best Pub
• The Boot, Market Place, St Albans
• Dylan's at the Kings Arms, George Street, St Albans
• Great Northern, London Road, St Albans
Best Takeaway
• Godfrey's Fish & Chips, High Street, Harpenden
• Hatch, The Maltings, St Albans
• Lebanese Kitchen, Stanhope Road, St Albans
Most Family Friendly Venue
• Inn on the Park, Verulamium Park, St Albans
• Nice, High Street, Harpenden
• Relish Real Burgers, Civic Close, St Albans
Kate D'Arcy Award for customer service.
• Charlie Powell of Charlie's Coffee & Company, London Road, St Albans
• Johnny Shepherd at The Pudding Stop, Verulam Road, St Albans
• Sean Hughes of Dylan's at the Kings Arms, George Street, St Albans
Now that the shortlists have been created by public vote, steering group members will visit the shortlisted venues anonymously to judge them against specific criteria for each category. Family-friendly venues for example will be visited with children, and “locally sourced” ingredients will be checked at venues claiming to use them.
The winners of each category will be revealed at the glittering Festival Awards Dinner in Sopwell House Hotel on Monday 5 October. The finalist who wins the most award categories will be proclaimed the Food and Drink Champion 2015.
Councillor Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Localism at St Albans City and District Council, said: “Congratulations to each of the businesses who have reached the finals of this year’s St Albans & Harpenden Food & Drink Awards. Every year the quality of the food and drink scene in our District gets better so it is a fantastic achievement to have reached the finals by popular vote.
“Before we discover who has won awards, there is the St Albans & Harpenden Food & Drink Festival to enjoy. So I encourage everyone to get their festival brochures and prepare to try some of the appetising events and activities.”
The 2015 St Albans & Harpenden Food & Drink Festival starts on Tuesday 22 September bringing you a fortnight of tasty events throughout the District.
You can get your festival brochures now from the Civic Centre, libraries, leisure centres, St Albans Tourist and Information Centre, Harpenden Information Point and participating venues. You can also download the brochure from the website https://www.enjoystalbans.com/things-to-do/st-albans-food-and-drink-festival/
Please note: You can enjoy the Oktoberfest at The Foragers at The Verulam Arms, Lower Dagnall Street, St Albans, on Sat 3 October, not 2 October as stated in the brochure.
Councillor contact:
Councillor Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Localism at the Council
Mob: Tel: 07956 220264
Contact for the media:
Ruth Boyer, Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819316
E-mail: ruth.boyer@stalbans.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StAlbansCouncil
Notes:
Members of the steering group for the St Albans and Harpenden Food and Drink Awards include:
• Helen Burridge – St Albans City and District Council
• Councillor Beric Read – Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Localism for St Albans City and District Council
• Becky Alexander – Food Writer, Herts Advertiser
• Andrew Meredith – White Hart Tap
• Sonia McDonnell – Crumbs 'n' All Caribbean Cakes
• Richard Marrett – City Centre Manager
• Oliver Zissmann – That Design Store
• Andrei Lussmann – Lussmanns Restaurants
• Sally Walker –Events Officer at Harpenden Town Council
• Julia Jenkins – Flagship Wines Ltd
• Iain Loe – Campaign for Real Ale
• Keith Lunn – Harpenden Retail Forum.
More information about St Albans and Harpenden Food & Drink Festival can be found on the website, https://www.facebook.com/StAlbansFoodandDrinkFestival/ and Twitter.com @stalbansfdf
More information about St Albans Beer & Cider Festival 2015 is available on the website.
Photo:
The 2014 Food & Drink Award for Best Local Restaurant was won by Lussmanns Fish & Grill Restaurant, pictured here with Cllr Geoff Harrison, the then St Albans Mayor