Winners of St Albans and Harpenden Food and Drink Awards 2015
Residents’ favourite food and drink businesses were honoured at St Albans and Harpenden Food and Drink Awards 2015 on Monday 5 October.
The award-winners were announced at the end of St Albans and Harpenden Food and Drink Festival in a ceremony in Sopwell House Hotel.
The festival and awards were organised by St Albans City and District Council with the support of a steering group of advisors.
Earlier this year the public was invited to select their favourite food and drink businesses. Members of the steering group then visited the shortlisted venues anonymously to judge them against specific criteria for each category.
The names of the winners were announced at the awards ceremony and are:
• Best Bar - Mokoko Cocktail Bar & Grill, Verulam Road, St Albans
• Best Independent Food/Drink Shop - BEER:shop, London Road, St Albans
• Best Café - Barrisimo, St Peter's Street, St Albans
• Best Newcomer - Dylan's at the Kings Arms, George Street, St Albans
• Best Local Producer - Hedges Farm Shop, North Orbital Road, St Albans
• Best Local Restaurant - Lussmanns Fish & Grill Restaurant, St Albans
• Best Pub - The Boot, Market Place, St Albans
• Best Takeaway - Lebanese Kitchen, Stanhope Road, St Albans
• Most Family Friendly Venue - Relish Real Burgers, Civic Close, St Albans.
Two further awards were presented on the night:
• The coveted award for Food and Drink Champion of the Year was presented to Sean Hughes of Dylan's at the Kings Arms.
• Sean Hughes of Dylan's at the Kings Arms also received the Kate D’Arcy Award for Exceptional Customer Service. This award was given in memory of Kate D’Arcy, a much-admired local restaurateur who died in 2010.
The day before the awards’ presentation, thousands came to enjoy the Street Finale of the festival in St Peter’s Street, St Albans. St Albans’ Mayor joined professional chefs to take part in cookery demonstrations and the Omelette Challenge. Children and adults made their own tiffin, saw live chickens and heard acoustic music. Other highlights of the day included the Pop-Up Village Green, the City Farm and Pop-Up restaurants.
The Mayor of St Albans City and District, Cllr Salih Gaygusuz, helped present the awards. He said: “St Albans and Harpenden Food and Drink Awards honour the public’s favourite culinary businesses from cafés and restaurants to cocktail bars and pubs. Every establishment and producer that was shortlisted for an award deserves high praise for the quality of their food or drink. I congratulate all the entrants and encourage everyone to support their favourites and maybe also to try out somewhere new.”
Cllr Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Localism at the Council, said: “The St Albans & Harpenden Food & Drink Festival is a brilliant two-week celebration of the wide range of food and drink businesses in the District. It culminates in the Food and Drink Awards which recognise the most popular businesses for the excellence of their produce and service. The festival and awards are just two of the many events organised by the Council throughout the year as part of our wider strategy to support the local economy.”
The Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City and District of St Albans, Councillor Salih Gaygusuz
Contact for the Mayor’s office:
Alison Orde, the Mayor’s Civic Officer
Tel: 01727 819544
Email: mayoralty@stalbans.gov.uk
Councillor contact:
Cllr Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Localism, St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 07956 220264
Contact for the press:
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
Note:
More information on events and attractions in St Albans can be found on the Enjoy St Albans website.
Pictures:
TOP: The finalists of St Albans and Harpenden Food and Drink Awards 2015 pictured with the Mayor of the City and District of St Albans, Councillor Salih Gaygusuz
ABOVE: Sean Hughes of Dylan's at the Kings Arms, winner of the awards for:
1. Food and Drink Champion of the Year
2. Best Newcomer
3. The Kate D’Arcy Award for Exceptional Customer Service
Sean is pictured with Julie Gingell (on the left of the picture) of SA Law who sponsored the award and Natalie B (on the right), who compered
ABOVE: The winners of the award for Best Local Restaurant - Lussmanns Fish & Grill Restaurant, St Albans
Photos by St Albans Photography