It was so exciting to be able to recognise the very best of our county’s restaurants, cafes, pubs, chefs and producers at the Suffolk Food and Drink Awards once again – the first time in five years that we've been able to celebrate the awards.
A fantastic range of businesses have been recognised across 11 categories, from family-run grocery boxes to high-end dining supper clubs.
It was an extra special celebration; the last time the event took place was in 2019, after which Covid forced us to take a break. A lot has happened since then, especially with the huge impact of the pandemic.
But what could have been the end of our wonderful hospitality sector might just have been the making of it. The innovation seen in throughout that time was incredible, and the Suffolk Food and Drink Awards 2024 are a fantastic celebration of this outstanding industry.
The awards night took place on April 29 at Snape Maltings, and was hosted by comedian Scott Bennett. Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner supported by beer from Woodfordes Brewery, and wine and Prosecco supplied by Makro/Booker.
Guests also received a goody bag of wonderful Suffolk food and drink produce. We couldn’t have held these awards without the support of Thomas Ridley Foodservice and our category sponsors – The Hotel Folk, Suffolk New College, The VENI Project and Pier Marketing.
Meet our wonderful winners.
Best Coffee Shop/ Café
THE GREENHOUSE CAFE
The judges said: 'The food was delicious and amongst the best in the judging process and great to see how frequently the menu changes. Fantastic to see such a strong array of vegan food, rather than just the standard vegan fayre you get in a lot of cafes. A fantastic vegan food offering, served in a friendly and well decorated space that feels unique and welcoming.'
Best Newcomer
Sponsored by Pier
ACRE FARM + BAKERY
The judges said: 'An incredible, one-of-a-kind bakery, serving the needs of its community, the land and environment and the passions of its owners. Faultless. It is fair to say it will be very difficult to provide constructive criticism for ACRE. Everything about it is absolutely wonderful. From the quality of the product to the 360 degree approach to production/circular farming. Everything is considered and exemplary. Pulling out some of the little things, I loved that they feed the whole team around harvest and the engagement with the customers is spot on. Stretching for critiques, but it would be good to see this expanded operationally to more bake days and open up the business more for the community to enjoy - more supper clubs and/or perhaps other opportunities for communities to engage with the bakery (eg workshops).'
Best Suffolk Producer
Sponsored by The Hotel Folk
FEN FARM DAIRY
The judges said: 'Fen Farm Dairy have left no stone unturned in their highly tuned 'circular farming' business model. Using the power of their 300 strong herd of Montbeliard cows they have created a business which is a force to be reasoned with. Ranging from solar panels on the roof, water pipes underneath their cows to heat the water to wash the parlour, drive by collection of their products, not to mention the state of art production facility, everything is done with a purpose. The success they have achieved with all of their products, particularly Baron Bigod, truly represent the Pride of Suffolk, helping to put the county on the international food map.'
Chef of the Year
JOEY O'HARE - HUSK
The judges said: 'I came away from the interview inspired by what Joey (and Husk) bring to the Suffolk tableWe are very lucky to have a chef of Joey's calibre and understanding of food systems and seasons across our county. When Joey talks about food I want to listen!'
Field to Fork
Sponsored by Suffolk New College
SUNSHINE AND GREEN
The judges said: 'A remarkable vision of understanding between the environment, its biodiversity and its role within the process of growing food. Working on a seemingly incredibly small scale, the depth and diversity of produce and ideas is amazing, but demonstrates that scale and size is no barrier to achieving goals.
'Excellent grasp of customer needs and also identification of opportunities in the marketplace. Very constrained by financial pressures from the outset but it has now achieved sufficient scale and margin to expand in a manageable and organic manner. Customer retention and engagement is very good. There's a massive commitment to sustainability – it appears no area of the business has not been considered in terms of its environmental impact and its contribution to biodiversity, but fundamentally the production of food. A real Field to Fork champion.
'The story and history behind Sunshine and Green is inspiring, using every inch of land to produce a stunning variety of organic produce that is then sold through their box scheme – very competitively priced. The personal touch that is offered and the evident thought that has gone into maximising the offer is commendable. The future of this business is filled with numerous ideas to expand.'
Food and Drink Retailer of the Year
BLACK DOG DELI FOODS
The judges said: 'A forward thinking, ambitious business model that's driving huge success on the back of Covid. The Halesworth shop felt eclectic, inviting and was bustling. All products are made fresh in-house for their own sites as well as wholesale customers. Pricing is competitive to appeal to locals and holidaymakers alike. Products are well thought out and high quality products, purchased locally but not at the expense of quality. Franchise model creates a slight differentiation between each site which plays to their strengths. Each franchise has its own identity and personality. Staff training is very good with complete understanding of the products and customer reviews are very good, describing the delis as friendly and good value.'
Food/ Drink Experience
HUSK
The judges said: 'The desire to create a really special experience for the guests comes through strongly – from the detail in the rooms to the care taken over food and drink. This is an ethos-driven business which wants to connect people with their food and with each other. A passionate and inspiring team creating an outstanding food and drink experience in Thorington. From the cocktail on arrival to the cheese board at the finish, intricate care is taken in every step of the creation of the Husk Supper Club. Complemented by some quaint and original accommodation, it has the feel of a serene, authentic, yet modern farm yard. It really is setting a new standard in the county with a small but loyal following.'
Front of House Experience
THE FOX AND GOOSE
The judges said: 'From the moment we arrived, the attention to detail of the customer experience shone through. Thoughtful, respectful and relaxed service and you can tell that genuinely care.'
Pub/Bar of the Year
THE WHITE HORSE, BADWELL ASH
The judges said: 'Beautifully decorated, lovely ambience, with a wide range of food and drinks. We highly recommend this beautiful country pub, with delicious food and drink and lovely atmosphere.'
Restaurant of the Year
Sponsored by The Visitor Economy Network Initiative (VENI)
THE LION, EAST BERGHOLT
The judges said: 'A lovely lunchtime visit, with good service received from start to finish. A really nice menu offer, with a ‘butchers cut of day’ offer within the specials. Each dish was well-presented, well cooked and tasty.'
Outstanding Achievement
Sponsored by Thomas Ridley Foodservice
SAM AND CLARE FAIRS (HILLFARM OILS)
The judges said: 'Sam and Clare Fairs are true Suffolk pioneers who have led the development of a product that has become known as ‘Britain’s olive oil’. Sam’s family has farmed in Suffolk since 1967, and it was back in 2004 when he and wife Clare first experimented with cold pressing the oilseed rape they grew at their farm in Heveningham. The result was a sunny yellow oil, naturally healthy and extremely versatile in the kitchen and at the table. That same year, Sam and Clare took their bottles of oil, each hand-filled and sealed, to the Suffolk Show where they launched Hillfarm Oil. Over time, Hillfarm Oil found its way onto the shelves of food shops and supermarkets and, as its popularity grew, Sam and Clare created other high quality products, such as flavoured oils and mayonnaise. Other labels began to emerge as producers around the country followed they pioneering lead. But in Suffolk, Hillfarm Oil remains the original, tried and trusted brand.'
