In association with
Cumbria Food Awards will take place at Kendal College on Thursday, 12 March 2026.
Nominations and Business entries are now open for the 2026 awards, good luck all!
Cumbria Food Awards are back for their fifth year.
The county’s only dedicated food and drink awards, held in association with Caterite, are to return to Kendal College in March 2026, with TV star Chris Bavin doing the honours as host.
The independent awards attracted more than 1,000 entries and nominations in 2025 for categories recognising the best chefs, restaurants, pubs, cafés, producers and service stars throughout the county.
During the gala awards evening host Chris Bavin, known for programmes including Britain’s Best Home Cook and Eat Well For Less?, will present the trophies for 13 competitive categories, plus the top award for the Dave Myers Cumbrian Food and Drink Hero and a new award, the Growing Strong Award, backed by new associate sponsor, The Cumberland.
The independent awards are free to enter and judged by an independent panel of 15 industry experts.
Nominations now open.
The TV chef and Hairy Biker Dave Myers said the county’s food and drink stars are “simply the best” as he hosted the first Cumbria Food Awards 2022.
Dave was at Kendal College for the event when some of the county’s best-known chefs, restaurateurs and business owners were recognised.
He told the audience that as a proud Cumbrian, it was brilliant to be part of so much success. Achievements such as Michelin stars fed down to the whole industry, including producers.
“In Cumbria, the world is already our cockle,” he joked. “I love being part of this, I’m proud to be the Cumbrian bloke who cooks on the telly.”
He added that he’d been “overwhelmed personally” to be back in the county and to see how the industry had developed and achieved global significance.
– Jay Rayner, The Observer’s restaurant critic and a feature writer
Hospitality is one of the main sources of income for the Lake District economy. And with past students working for celebrity chefs in Michelin starred kitchens, Kendal College’s Hospitality & Catering department really does create brighter futures.
