Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards

Over 130 invited guests waited with anticipation as BBC Midlands Today presenter Kay Alexander announced the results of the 2006 Coventry and Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards.

These awards encourage and reward quality, excellence and the innovative use of local produce. Food and drink establishments throughout Coventry and Warwickshire contribute an enormous amount to the economy and their use of locally produced ingredients, helps to sustain local businesses.

The ceremony, which took place at The Draycote Hotel near Rugby on Tuesday 17th October, was the highlight of what has been another successful year for the competition.

With 72 entries received the competition was fierce and the three judges had the difficult task of choosing the most deserving winners. The judges used the information supplied by the establishment to short-list the entries down to five per category and then made a mystery visit to each one to sample their menu and experience the service. After great deliberation they chose the following winners:

Best Restaurant

• Winner - Queans Restaurant, Leamington Spa
• Highly Commended - Ryton Organic Gardens, Ryton-on-Dunsmore
• Commended - The Bell Inn, Welford-on-Avon

Best Cafe/Tea Room

• Winner - Compton Verney
• Highly Commended - Thomas Oken Tea Rooms, Warwick
• Commended - Hatton Locks Café, Hatton

 Best Breakfast

• Winner - Leathermill Grange Country Guest House, Caldecote
• Highly Commended - Ryton Organic Gardens, Ryton-on-Dunsmore
• Commended - Lea Marston Hotel & Leisure Complex, Lea Marston

Best Ethnic Restaurant

• Winner - Arden Tandoori Restaurant, Henley-in-Arden
• Highly Commended - Agra Palace, Nuneaton
• Commended - Turmeric Gold, Coventry

Best Local Producer

• Winner - Fowlers Forest Dairies, Earlswood
• Highly Commended - Turkey Talk, Balsall Common
• Commended - Rightons of Shipston, Shipston-on-Stour

 Best Junior Chef

• Winner - Ross Rochelle, Mallory Court Hotel, Bishops Tachbrook
• Highly Commended - Daniel Osborne, Planters Garden Centre Restaurant, Freasley
• Commended - Anthony Brandl, Courtyard by
• Marriott, Leamington Spa
• Certificate of Merit - Arnaud Guillot, Aylesford Hotel, Warwick

Excellence in Quality and Customer Service

Queans Restaurant, Leamington Spa

Champion of Local Produce

Hoar Park Farm Restaurant, Ansley

Winners and Highly Commended establishments each received a framed certificate and a trophy to display with pride, whilst Commended establishments received a framed certificate.

The award scheme has been developed in partnership with North Warwickshire Borough Council, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, Stratford District Council, Warwick District Council, Warwickshire County Council, CV1, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Heart of England Fine Foods, Quality at Heart and Henley College.

Anybody that would like to know more about the award scheme should contact the coordinators Rachel Samways at North Warwickshire Borough Council on 01827 719301 or Rose Selwyn at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council on 024 7637 6490