Northamptonshire is back! Contenders for the county's Food Awards are revealed.

The Fifteenth Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards, launched on the first day of spring at Silverstone Circuit, have now begun the shortlisting process.

21 of the county's best artisan food and drink products have been announced as finalists, they will now compete for Gold, Silver, and Bronze in their respective categories. 

Park Inn by Radisson Northampton, new Associate sponsors were kind to host Artisan Local Drink. The judges were amazed by the range of drinks available in our county, when asked to shortlist to between three to five products could not reduce the number of finalists to less than seven!

Eat Curious, last year’s winner of Artisan Local Vegetarian/Vegan Product proved a scenic venue at Horton for judging this year’s entries. Category sponsor Daily Bread commented that since COVID Northamptonshire is now “back” offering such a high range of quality products. 

No stranger to the Awards and its benefits, Gary Bradshaw of Hamm Tun Fine Foods, last year won Silver in Artisan Local Product with his Northamptonshire Blue, is back with a bang after a devastating fire in the winter losing all his stock, being named as a finalist in both Product categories. “It’s good to have some recognition for all my hard work. Sales have been slow, if it wasn’t for all the food shows I wouldn’t still be here. I can’t make enough of the Shoetown Blue it’s my most popular product by far, it’s so consistently good. What a fantastic way to mark my tenth year in business”. 

Rachel Mallows MBE DL, Awards Director, said:

“Across all 3 categories, judges reported it was such a hard decision and could not meet my maximum 5 shortlist. Not only were the produced in Northamptonshire products and drinks wide ranging but every judging session had feedback about the exceptional taste. We were so pleased that entries in each category were at least 30% new producers to the awards.”

These prestigious Northamptonshire Awards celebrate all that is great about local produce and drink, recognising excellence within the county’s dining venues and reward those who work so hard within the culinary sector.

Finalists for all three categories are:

Artisan Local Drink of the Year, sponsored by J Sweeney Accountants

Barely Organised- Paw Another Light Session Mead

Mee Farmers- 100% Blueberry Juice

Phipps Northampton Brewery Co Ltd- Phipps Foundry Mild

Silverstone Distillery- Club 80- Navy Strength Gin

Three Hills Brewing- Heidrun session NEIPA

Wild & Furrow- Oat drink

Winwick Hall Bruce Green Limited- Winwick Hall Methode Champenoise

Artisan Local Product of the Year, sponsored by Heygates:

Duston Village Bakery- Steak Pasty

Friars Farm- Lemon Curd

Hamm Tun Fine Foods- Shoetown Blue

Made by the Beekeeper- New Lodge Vineyard Chilli Honey

F.F Tee Bakery- Northampton Cheesecake

The Boughton Estate- Boughton Estate Homemade honey

Your Cool- Coffee ice-cream

Artisan Local Vegetarian/ Vegan Product of the Year, sponsored by Daily Bread:

Dovely Bakery – Rose Cottage Multi Seed Loaf

Hamm Tun Fine Foods- Northamptonshire Blue

Mill House at the Old Stable Yard Tearoom- Strawberry & Rose Cake

Shoots & Spores- Fresh Oyster Mushrooms

Sophisticake Creations- Carrot, Parsnip & Pecan Cake

The Tollemache Arms- Harrington Wild Garlic Butter

Urban Microgreens- Salad Mix

The winners and runners-up in each category will be decided by a second stage judging process and winners will be announced August 4 at The Daily Bread. 

For more information on the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2023/24, please visit www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk or call Sophie Smith on 01933 664437 or email [email protected]