The nominations are in and the finalists for the 2019 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards have been announced, with three eateries vying for the overall title of Restaurant of the Year.
Organised by Destination Chesterfield, and sponsored by The Chesterfield College Group, the prestigious awards ceremony will return for its seventh year, recognising the very best in the town’s growing food and drink sector.
A total of 27 businesses have been shortlisted across nine categories. Bottle & Thyme, Ciuri Ciuri Restaurant and Lombardi’s all hoping to take the top title.
This year, seven of the businesses have been nominated for the first time and five will be defending their 2018 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards titles, including Bottle & Thyme which, last year, won the coveted title of Best Restaurant.
As well as some of Chesterfield’s best loved venues, three of Chesterfield’s newer businesses are also shortlisted in this year’s awards. Patisserie Valerie, Pig & Pump and Sorbo Lounge are all recognised in the Best Newcomer category.
All the shortlisted businesses were nominated by members of the public earlier this year. A panel of judges will now visit each shortlisted business to sample food, drinks and service to determine the winner in each category.
Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “It’s fantastic to see so many new businesses nominated this year, reflecting growth in the town’s food and drink sector.
“Thank you to the people of Chesterfield for getting behind us in the nomination stage, helping us to recognise more businesses than ever in the 2019 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards.
“The competition gets stronger every year. Everyone that has been shortlisted in the awards must be congratulated for their commitment to high standards.”
The winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony which is being held at the Winding Wheel on 23 October later this year and hosted by a soon-to-be announced celebrity chef.
The finalists in each category are:
Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council
Bottle & Thyme
Ciuri Ciuri Restaurant
Lombardi’s Restaurant
Cafe/Tea Room of the Year – sponsored by Kier Group
The Lilypad Café
H&F Vintage Tea Rooms
Qoozies
Gastro Pub of the Year – sponsored by Banner Jones Solicitors
The Market Pub
The Rectory
The Red Lion at Peak Edge Hotel
Pub/Bar of the Year
Pump & Grind
The Rose & Crown
The Three Horseshoes
Chesterfield’s Best Newcomer – sponsored by BHP Chartered Accountants
Patisserie Valerie
Pig & Pump
Sorbo Lounge
Excellence in Customer Service – sponsored by East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire)
Bottle & Thyme
Junction Bar
The Lilypad Café
Best Out of Town – sponsored by Shorts Chartered Accountants
The Horse & Jockey, Wessington
Orangery Restaurant, Darley Dale
Southgate Brasserie, Van Dyk, Clowne
International Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by MSE Hiller
Cocina at Casa Hotel
Dehli 41
O-Tokuda
Family Friendly Award – sponsored by Jumble Creative Design
The Bulls Head, Holymoorside
Chesters
The Six Halts, Clay Cross
Conference Venue of the Year
Casa Hotel
Chatsworth House
Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa
At the awards in October, winners of a further five categories will also be announced, including Food Producer, Young Chef, Food Hero, Apprentice of the Year and Apprentice Employer of the Year.
Other supporters of the awards include Apprentice Town (Led by Chesterfield Borough Council), Casa Hotel, Derbyshire Times, Distinctive Magic, Edge Events Management Ltd, Elder Way (Jomast Developments), FEAST – Food and Drink Forum, Hoods Florist, Learning Unlimited (The Chesterfield College Group), Magnifica, Owen Taylor & Sons, Peak FM, Reflections Magazine (Bannister Publications Ltd) and Vicar Lane Shopping Centre.
