The finalists for the county’s independent food awards have been announced.
Chefs, restaurants, pubs, cafés, producers and retailers from throughout the county have been selected for the 2025 Cumbria Food Awards shortlists.
The much-anticipated awards, held in association with Caterite, are due to take place on Thursday 20 March at Kendal College, to be hosted by the chef and TV presenter Matt Tebbutt of BBC’s Saturday Kitchen.
Finalists come from every part of the county: from Industry Kitchen in Barrow-in-Furness, to West Walls Brewing Co at Carlisle, The Black Bull at Sedbergh and Lakes Distillery at Bassenthwaite.
JENNY WOOLGAR PHOTOGRAPHY
Long-established businesses, including The Toffee Shop at Penrith, have made the cut alongside new ventures, such as The Schelly at Ambleside and Cloud Nine Kitchen in Dalton-in-Furness, as well as the Michelin-starred restaurants, Farlam Hall at Brampton, Rogan & Co at Cartmel and The Forest Side at Grasmere.
There were more than 1,000 business entries and public nominations for 13 competitive categories, which were considered by an independent panel of 15 judges.
Co-organiser Harry Atkinson said: “This is the fourth annual Cumbria Food Awards and the competition is tougher than ever.
“Our judges have done a fantastic job of selecting finalists from all parts of the county, including takeaways, pubs, drinks producer, casual dining venues and specialist shops. All of the finalists should be very proud to have been highlighted.
“Thank you to every member of the public and all the business owners who took the trouble to get involved by making an entry or nomination. Now we can’t wait to find out who our judges choose as their winners and celebrate with them in March.”
The Cumbria Food Awards reception, dinner and presentation will be attended by more than 160 finalists, sponsors and special guests. Kendal College students will cook and serve canapés and a two-course dinner while the host, Matt Tebbutt, will announce the winners.
In addition to headline sponsor Caterite, Cumbria Food Awards category sponsors are: Academy by Simon Rogan; Booths; Cranstons; Cumbria Crack; Enterprise Answers; Grapevine; Hawkshead Relish; Herdwick Cottages; Kendal College; Lamont Pridmore; More? The Artisan Bakery; Porsche Centre South Lakes; Thomson Hayton Winkley Solicitors and Westmorland Farmshop.
Cumbria Food Awards media partner is breaking news website Cumbria Crack. Northern grocer Booths is supplying the food for the networking reception and Reeds is providing printing services.
Cumbria Food Awards 2025 Finalists
Specialist Retailer of the Year
Sponsored by Hawkshead Relish
Basecamp North Lakes, A66 near Penrith
Roast Mutton, Kendal
The Meat Hook, Sedbergh
Food Producer of the Year
Sponsored by Booths
Eden Yard Rapeseed Oil, Plumpton near Penrith
The Pie Mill, Threlkeld, Keswick
The Toffee Shop, Penrith
Drinks Producer of the Year
Sponsored by Grapevine
Crooked River Brewing Co, Cockermouth and Workington
Lakes Brew Co, Kendal
The Lakes Distillery, Bassenthwaite
Pub, Bar or Taproom of the Year
Sponsored by Herdwick Cottages
The Hare & Hounds Inn, Bowland Bridge
Lake District Wine, Keswick
West Walls Brewing Co, Carlisle
Service of the Year
Sponsored by Academy by Simon Rogan
Craig Blackburn, Old Stamp House, Ambleside
Peter King, The Yan at Broadrayne, Grasmere
Stacey Lee Raath, Ramble, Kendal
New Business of the Year
Sponsored by Thomson Hayton Winkley Solicitors
Billy’s Barr and Restaurant, Hawkshead
Cloud Nine Kitchen, Dalton-in-Furness
The Schelly, Ambleside
Sustainable/Ethical Business of the Year
Sponsored by Porsche Centre South Lakes
Basecamp North Lakes, A66 Near Penrith|
Our Farm, Cartmel
Torpenhow Farmhouse Dairy, near Wigton
Café of the Year
Sponsored by Cumbria Crack
Industry Kitchen, Barrow-in-Furness
Mathilde’s Café, Grasmere
Whytes Café Bar, Carlisle
Takeaway or Street Food Trader of the Year
Sponsored by Cranstons
- British Raj, Kendal
- Fish Express, Kendal
- Peace & Loaf, Barrow-in-Furness
Casual Dining Venue of the Year
Sponsored by Enterprise Answers
Barua Street Food, Keswick
Ramble, Kendal
The Round, Keswick
Contemporary Restaurant of the Year
Sponsored by Lamont Pridmore
George and Dragon, Clifton, Penrith
Mizu Pan Asian Restaurant, Borrowdale
The Black Bull, Sedbergh
The Oak, Curthwaite near Wigton
Acclaimed Restaurant of the Year
Sponsored by More? The Artisan Bakery
Farlam Hall, Brampton
Rogan & Co, Cartmel
The Forest Side, Grasmere
Chef of the Year
Sponsored by Westmorland Farmshop
Jack Bond, The Cottage in the Wood, Braithwaite, near Keswick
Scott Fairweather, Harry’s Café Bar, Yew Tree Barn, Low Newton
Paul Leonard, The Forest Side, Grasmere
Special awards to be announced on the night
The Rising Star Award
Sponsored by Kendal College
Outstanding Contribution
Sponsored by Caterite