Some of the best restaurants and bars in the East Midlands are in the running for prestigious Great Food Club awards.
Independent restaurants, cafes, producers, shops and street vendors have been nominated by foodies for the annual awards, which recognize the outstanding offerings of food and drink across the region.
The jury will visit the finalists shortly and the winners will be announced in September.
More than 5,500 votes were cast by the public for their favorite spots in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.
Among them is Factory Kitchen in Ilkeston, a family-run restaurant that serves brunch and dinner and is located in an industrial area of the city.
The affordable take away take away menu drew rave reviews.
The factory kitchen in Ilkeston
It competes against a country pub owned by cricketers Harry Gurney and Stuart Broad. The Tap and Run Pub in Upper Broughton is also a finalist in the Dining Award category.
Harry said, “Having worked incredibly hard on all aspects of the pub about the lockdown, it is very gratifying to have been shortlisted for this prestigious award so soon after reopening. Cross your fingers that we can go one step further. “
One of the Lincolnshire competitors is Mill Farm in Manthorpe, near Bourne. Since its inception as a farm owned by WH Munton and Son in the 1940s, it has had a butcher shop in the village selling home-fed and local meat, as well as poultry, game, eggs, potatoes and other supplies.
Matt Wright, Founder of the Great Food Club, said, “We are always excited to publish the Great Food Club Awards shortlist every summer.
“We think our annual awards are a little different because they recognize real hidden gems, independent family businesses, and unsung food heroes across the region. The pandemic has shown all of us how important our local food and beverage manufacturers and businesses really are, “and has also shown us how much we love to eat and drink out.”
The full list of finalists:
FOOD AWARDS
- Factory Kitchen, Ilkeston, Derbyshire?
- The Red Lion, West Deeping, Lincolnshire
- Tap & Run, Upper Broughton, Nottinghamshire
- Paddy’s Marten Inn, Leicester
PRODUCER
- Mill Farm, Manthorpe, Lincolnshire?
- Round Corner Brew, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
- Farmer Lou, Oakham, Rutland
- Ruddy Fine Gin, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire
LOAD
- The Little Bakery, Leicester
- Hamilton’s Butcher & Naughty Pig take away, Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire
- Croots Farm Shop, Duffield, Derbyshire?
- Cocoa Amore, Leicester
Breakfast at the Hay Barn Cafe at Kneesall
COFFEE SHOP
- The Haybarn in Kneesall, Nottinghamshire
- Burrough Court Coffee Shop, Burrough on the Hill, Leicestershire?
- Six Hills Cafe, Bakery & Pizzeria, Six Hills, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
- Cozy cafe, Hinckley, Leicestershire
STREET FOOD
- Chez Sebastien Artisan Pizza, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
- Stanley Street, Barnwell, Northamptonshire
- Cod Scallops, Nottinghamshire & Leicestershire
- Amelie (Flamkuche Maker), Cambridge
FOOD HERO (TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING SPECIAL)
- Derby Pyclet Co, Derby – for reviving the Derbyshire Pyclet, a delightful local specialty
- Radmoor Restaurant, Loughborough – for providing valuable training to hospitality and catering students.
- JB Kitchen, Thurcaston, Leicestershire – for building an excellent grocery store in the face of adversity.
- Ferneley’s Milk, Whissendine, Rutland – to start a milk delivery round and run a farm and café at the same time.