Cumbria Food Awards 2026 winners
the 2026 awards took place at Kendal College on Thursday, 12 March 2026
Specialist Food Retailer of the Year
Lovingly Artisan
Finalists:
Caldbeck Village Store
J&J Graham, Penrith
Lovingly Artisan, Kendal
Category Sponsored by
Hawkshead Relish
Food Producer of the Year
Mr Vikki's
Finalists:
Bells of Lazonby, near Penrith
Mr Vikki’s, Penrith
Northern Pasta, Kendal
Category Sponsored by
Booths
Drinks Producer of the Year
Witherslack Orchards
Finalists:
Crooked River Brewing Company, Workington
Pennington’s Spirits, Kendal
Witherslack Orchards, near Grange-over-Sands
Category Sponsored by
Grapevine
Sustainable Business of the Year
Lovingly Artisan
Finalists:
Lakes Brew Co, Kendal
Lovingly Artisan, Kendal and Burneside
Our Farm, Cartmel
Category Sponsored by
Reeds
New Business of the Year
The Secret Table
Finalists:
Cartmel Old Grammar
Stable Coffee, Kendal
The Secret Table, Underscar
Category Sponsored by
Thomson Hayton Winkley
Café of the Year
Harry's Yew Tree Barn
Finalists:
Harry’s, Yew Tree Barn, Low Newton
Homeground, Windermere
Levens Kitchen, Levens near Kendal
Yonder, Keswick
Category Sponsored by
Cumbria Crack
Takeaway or Street Food Trader of the Year
Peace & Loaf Sourdough Pizza
Finalists:
Dosa Chaska, Whitehaven
Khao Keang, Carlisle
Peace & Loaf Sourdough Pizza, Barrow-in-Furness
Category Sponsored by
Plain Creative
Pub, bar or taproom of the Year
Crown and Thistle
Finalists:
Crooked River Tap, Keswick
Crown and Thistle, Rockcliffe
The Factory Tap, Kendal
Category Sponsored by
Herdwick Cottages
Service of the Year
Joel Pennington
Finalists:
Claire McClintock, Whytes Kitchen
Joel Pennington, The Cottage in the Wood
Margaret Stobbart, Dixons Rooftop Cafe
Category Sponsored by
Academy by Simon Rogan
Casual dining venue of the Year
Bar eS
Finalists:
Bar eS Tapas, Keswick
Billy’s Barr and Restaurant, Hawkshead
La Casita, Penrith
Category Sponsored by
Business Finance Cumbria
Contemporary Restaurant of the Year
The Schelly
Finalists:
Horse and Farrier, Dacre
Helm at The Oak, Curthwaite
The Schelly, Ambleside
Category Sponsored by
Lamont Pridmore
Chef of the Year
Jack Bond
Finalists:
Jack Bond, The Cottage in the Wood
James Cross, Lake Road Kitchen
Scott Fairweather, Harry’s, Yew Tree Barn
Category Sponsored by
Westmorland Farmshop
Acclaimed Restaurant of the Year
Forest Side and L'Enclume
Finalists:
Forest Side, Grasmere
L’Enclume, Cartmel
The Cottage in the Wood, near Keswick
Category Sponsored by
More? The Artisan Bakery
The Dave Myers Cumbrian Food and Drink Heroes
Ian Bradley and Susan Bradley
Category Sponsored by
Caterite