Cumbria’s hospitality industry is preparing for one of the biggest dates in its calendar.

The 2024 Cumbria Food Awards are due to take place on Thursday, 14 March at Kendal College, hosted by TV presenter, chef and restaurateur Simon Rimmer.

More than 150 finalists, judges, sponsors and special guests are due to attend a drinks reception and gala dinner, before Simon announces the winners of 13 competitive awards, presented to some of the county’s best cafés, restaurants, chefs, producers and service stars. Two special awards – for Rising Star and Outstanding Contribution – will also be announced.

The independent awards, held in association with headline sponsor Caterite and judged by a panel of 15 industry experts, are designed to recognise and celebrate excellence in Cumbria’s hospitality industry.

TV star Simon Rimmer, 60, of Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, operates a number of restaurants, including Greens in Sale, and still enjoys cooking for diners and overseeing service.

The Manchester-based chef, who has written four books and is also known for the BBC’s Something for the Weekend and Strictly Come Dancing, is a regular visitor to the county and a favourite at Westmorland County Show’s food theatre.

He said: “I’ve been coming up to Cumbria for a long time and have seen its food and drink scene really take off over the last 20 years, with so many Michelin-starred restaurants, incredible producers and industry stars.

“It will be great to meet lots of the people I’ve heard about and to see some of the county’s new faces. I’m privileged to still be running restaurants myself, so I understand what it takes to keep a food or drink business going these days. 

“Those guys who keep things at such high standards deserve to be recognised, so it will be great to hand out the awards. It’s going to be a fantastic night – I can’t wait.”

Before Simon announces the winners, a team of 50 students from the college will cook and serve canapés and a two-course dinner for the guests, under the guidance of the head of faculty for leisure and service industries, Richard Axford and his team. 

After attracting more than 1,400 business entries and public nominations, the Cumbria Food Awards panel of judges had a challenging task to decide on their shortlists in 13 competitive categories. 

Cumbria Food Awards are made possible thanks to its sponsors: headline sponsor Caterite; Cranstons; Enterprise Answers; Grapevine; Hawkshead Relish; Herdwick Cottages; Kendal College; Lamont Pridmore; More? The Artisan Bakery; Onunda; Spinning Jennies; Stagecoach; The Academy by Simon Rogan and Thomson Hayton Winkley Solicitors.

CFA media partner is the breaking news website www.cumbriacrack.co.uk and Simon Rogan is the event’s patron. 

Northern grocer Booths is supplying the food for the networking reception; H&H Reeds is providing printing services; The Samling is the awards accommodation provider and Shortridge laundry is supplying table linen.

www.cumbriafoodawards.co.uk

Image: Harry Atkinson

Cumbria Food Awards 2024 Finalists

Specialist Food Retailer of the Year 

Sponsored by Hawkshead Relish

A Day’s Walk, Cark-in-Cartmel and Ambleside

Cranstons Cumbrian Food Hall, Penrith

Grasmere Gingerbread, Grasmere

Drinks Producer of the Year

Sponsored by Grapevine

Fell Brewery, Flookburgh

Great Corby Brewhouse, near Carlisle

Penningtons Tea & Coffee, Kendal

Food Producer of the Year

Sponsored by Cranstons

Lovingly Artisan, Kendal

The Wagtail Kitchen, Kendal

Wild & Fruitful, Maryport

Pub, Bar or Taproom of the Year

Sponsored by Herdwick Cottages

5 O’clock Somewhere, Kendal

Ambleside Tap Yard

The Drover’s Rest, Monkhill, Burgh-by-Sands, Carlisle

Service of the Year

Sponsored by The Academy by Simon Rogan 

Ross Bell, Pentonbridge Inn, Penton near Carlisle

Tom Kilshaw, Levens Kitchen, near Kendal

Alice Mullin, 5 O’clock Somewhere, Kendal

New Business of the Year

Sponsored by Thomson Hayton Winkley Solicitors

Force Café, Ambleside

Northern Wine, Kendal

Three Hills Gelato, Torpenhow near Wigton

Sustainable/Ethical Business of the Year
Sponsored by Onunda

Roast Mutton, Kendal

Shed One Gin, Ulverston

The Yan at Broadrayne, Grasmere

Café of the Year

Sponsored by Cumbria Crack 

Homeground, Windermere

Levens Kitchen, near Kendal 

The Lingholm Kitchen, Portinscale

Casual Dining Venue of the Year 

Sponsored by Enterprise Answers

Peace & Loaf, Barrow-in-Furness

The Fell Pack, Keswick

The Yan at Broadrayne, Grasmere

Dining Pub of the Year

Sponsored by Lamont Pridmore

George & Dragon, Clifton near Penrith

Heft, High Newton

The Black Swan, Ravenstonedale

Hotel Restaurant of the Year

Sponsored by Stagecoach

SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel and Lake House, near Windermere

The Forest Side, Grasmere

The Samling, Windermere

Chef of the Year

Sponsored by Spinning Jennies 

Chris Archer of Pentonbridge Inn, Penton near Carlisle

Ollie Bridgwater, SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel and Lake House, Windermere 

Paul Leonard, The Forest Side, Grasmere

Restaurant of the Year
Sponsored by More? The Artisan Bakery

1863, Pooley Bridge

Pentonbridge Inn, Penton near Carlisle

Rogan & Co, Cartmel

Special awards to be announced on the night

The Rising Star Award

Sponsored by Kendal College

Outstanding Contribution 

Sponsored by Caterite