Taste Cheshire Celebrates 21st Year of Awards with sparkling Gala Dinner #Blog

Victoria Hayes
28th September 2023

Taste Cheshire, the county’s premier food and drink organisation, celebrated its 21st anniversary on Wednesday, 27th September at Chester Racecourse with a gala awards ceremony. Over 400 people from across Cheshire’s food, drink, and hospitality industries gathered to honour the best and brightest in the business.

The evening was hosted by Tori Hayes from Taste Cheshire and Izzy Grey from We Love Good Times and music came from The EverAfters, a local duo. Along with the trophies the evening featured a delicious three-course meal provided by Horseradish Catering.

All of the awards were sponsored by local businesses who are passionate about supporting local food and drink.

There were some surprises and newcomers winning at the awards ceremony, as well as some businesses who have won multiple awards across the years. Here is a list of the winners in each category:

• Gold: The Chester Fields
• Silver: Little Tap, Tarporley
• Bronze: The Chefs Table

Cheshire Bar | WLGT

• Gold: Vandal, Warrington
• Silver: Little Tap, Tarporley
• Bronze: Bar Lounge

Event Venue | The Brit Fest UK

• Gold: Storyhouse, Chester
• Silver: Opera Grill
• Bronze: Chester Racecourse

Green Award for Sustainability | The Green Expo

• Gold: Chester Zoo
• Silver: Twenty Eight
• Bronze: Groobarbs Wild Farm, High Legh

Best Casual Eatery | Scope Out Cheshire

• Gold: The Naughty Badger Bistro, Chester
• Silver: New Chester Market
• Bronze: Death By Tacos, Chester

Local Produce Shop | Taste Cheshire

• Gold: The Hollies Farm Shop
• Silver: The Lambing Shed
• Bronze: Longman’s Farm Shop, Nantwich

Best Cheshire Pub | Harlech Food Service

• Gold: Fox & Barrel, Cotebrook
• Silver: The Henry Potts, Chester
• Bronze: The White Horse, Churton

Family Friendly Venue| FB Sports and Clothing

• Gold: Ring O’ Bells, Christleton
• Silver: Hickory’s Smokehouse, Chester
• Bronze: White Lion, Weston

Sausage of the Festival | NoWFOOD

• Champion: David Joinson Quality Meats

Food Producer | Horseradish Catering

• Gold: The Weston Biltong Co.
• Silver: Groobox. High Legh
• Bronze: The Bear Bakery, Chester

Drink Producer | Secret Singles

• Gold: Weetwood Brewery and Distillery
• Silver: Lost Barn Coffee
• Bronze: Three Wrens Gin

Accommodation Award | Chester Boutique

• Gold: Hotel Indigo, Chester
• Silver: The Chester Grosvenor
• Bronze: The Pheasant Inn, Burwardsley

Newcomer | Morgan’s Hair and Beauty

• Gold: Twenty Eight
• Silver: The White Horse, Churton
• Bronze: Northgates, Chester

Small Restaurant |  The Hospitality Hero

• Gold: Poco, Hoole
• Silver: Upstairs at the Grill, Chester
• Bronze: Porta, Chester

Large Restaurant | Harlech Food Service

• Gold: Groobarbs Field Kitchen, High Legh
• Silver: Opera Grill
• Bronze: Chez Jules

Taste Cheshire CEO Briony Wilson said, “We are so proud to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Taste Cheshire Food and Drink Awards. The awards are a chance to recognise the incredible talent and dedication of the people who work in our industry. We are truly grateful to our sponsors and to everyone who voted in this year’s awards. Congratulations to all of the winners!”

The Taste Cheshire Food and Drink Awards are the only publicly voted awards of their kind in Cheshire. The awards are designed to celebrate the best of the county’s food and drink scene, from restaurants and pubs to producers and suppliers. The awards are also a chance to raise awareness of the importance of supporting local food and drink businesses.

About Taste Cheshire

Taste Cheshire is the county’s premier food and drink organisation. The organisation was founded to promote and support Cheshire’s food and drink industry. Taste Cheshire works with a wide range of partners, including businesses, government agencies, and educational institutions, to achieve its mission.