Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drinks Awards unveil finalists in four dining categories for 2023

The prestigious Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drinks Awards gears up for its annual November ceremony, announcing finalists across four culinary categories including Gastro Pub, Community Café, Restaurant, and World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year. Judges appreciate the resilience and creativity showcased by the county’s dining establishments.

The Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drinks Awards have announced their 2023 finalists in four distinguished dining categories. The annual awards ceremony, set for November, will recognise outstanding establishments in Booker Gastro Pub of the Year, Community Café of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, and World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year. Each category is sponsored by renowned organisations and supported by community partners.

Rachel Mallows MBE DL, the Awards’ founder, expressed her excitement about the participation of both new and returning sponsors. “In these challenging times, it’s crucial to celebrate the diverse range of dining options our county offers. Through these awards, we aim to give these deserving businesses the recognition they merit and boost local patronage,” she said.

Community Café of the Year, a category particularly aimed at exceptional coffee shops that also make a significant community impact, has gained a new sponsor this year—Public Health, West Northants Council. The sponsorship also enjoys continued support from The Good Loaf.

Adrian Hornigold, Catering Development Manager at Booker, shared his enthusiasm for sponsoring the Gastro Pub category. “We’re thrilled to see the hard work, ingenuity, and positive feedback these pubs are receiving across Northamptonshire,” he remarked.

Ian Kelland, Managing Director at British Pepper & Spice, sponsor of the World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year category, emphasized the quality of this year’s participants. “Selecting winners is challenging given the extraordinary menus and remarkable culinary talents we’ve witnessed. This category is a great fit for us,” Kelland noted.

Finalists for 2023:

• Booker Gastro Pub of the Year
  • The Kings Arms, Polebrook
  • The Old Talbot, Potterspury
  • The Rose & Crown, Yardley Hastings
  • The Sheaf, West Haddon
  • The Tollemache Arms, Harrington

• Community Café of the Year
  • Bennett’s, Thrapston
  • Bob’s Corby, Corby
  • Happy Mondays, Rushden
  • Lavender Bee Tea Room, Kettering
  • Polo Pavilion Tea Rooms, Winwick
  • The Place to Bee, Kingsthorpe

• Restaurant of the Year
  • Hopping Hare, Northampton
  • Karmana, Northampton
  • Marseille, Northampton
  • Murrays, Whittlebury Park, Towcester
  • Tap and Kitchen, Oundle
  • The Palmichael, Burton Latimer

• World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year
  • June Plum, Wellingborough
  • Little India, Earls Barton
  • Marmaris, Northampton
  • Mexican Fire Garden, Kettering
  • Voujon, Long Buckby

The achievements of Northamptonshire’s culinary scene will be celebrated on 1st November at a Gala Dinner held at the Royal & Derngate.

For the latest updates, follow the Awards on Facebook (@foodawards), Twitter and Instagram (@foodawardsHQ), or LinkedIn (@weetabixnfadawards) using the hashtag #WFDA23.