Articles by Guest author

Great Food Club Awards 2023/24 – The Winners

The Champions Restaurant of the Year – full detailsThe Monk, Quorn, Leicestershire Pub of the Year – full detailsThe Red Lion, West Deeping, Lincolnshire Food Producer of the Year – full detailsStonehurst Farm, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire Drink Producer of the Year – full detailsTynt Meadow Trappist Brewery, Mount St Bernard Abbey, Coalville, Leicestershire Shop of the Year – full detailsThe Cheese Shop, Nottingham Café of the […]

Food Heroes of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2023/4

Winners Chosen by our judges: Jane Tomlinson, founder, Redhill Farm Free Range Pork, LincolnshireSara Barton, founder, Brewsters Brewery, Grantham Shortlist Selected by the GFC team: Jane Tomlinson, co-founder, Redhill Farm Free Range Pork, LincolnshireSara Barton, founder, Brewsters Brewery, GranthamMatthew O’Callaghan, founder, British Pie Awards & Artisan Cheese AwardsStephen Gould, MD, Everards of Leicestershire This year, […]

People’s Choice Award: Great Food Club Awards 2023/24

The GFC People’s Choice Award is the annual gong that goes to the business that garnered the highest number of votes overall during the public voting phase of the awards. This year, The Forge at Glenfield, Leicestershire – a large, buzzing and professionally run independent pub – smashed the popular vote. As part of The Beautiful […]

Bakery of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2023/4

Winner Chosen by our judges: Harrison & Griffiths, Arnold, Nottinghamshire Shortlist The top public vote-winners: Harrison & Griffiths, Arnold, NottinghamshireOlivia’s Bakery, Loughborough, LeicestershirePasticceria Lorena, Wilford, NottinghamshireChloe Gourmet, Leicester The winner is Harrison & Griffiths of Arnold, Nottinghamshire – a baker of extraordinarily good Caribbean cakes. This family-run bakery boasts many years of combined baking experience […]

Restaurant of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2023/24

Winner Chosen by our judges: The Monk, Quorn, Leicestershire Shortlist The top public vote-winners: The Monk, Quorn, LeicestershireThe Kedleston, Quarndon, DerbyLake Isle, Uppingham, Rutland Ember, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire The winner is The Monk – a fun and buzzing restaurant set in a 16th-century thatched cottage. The Monk stands out as the Restaurant of the Year for 2023/4. […]

Shop of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2023/24

Winner Chosen by our judges: The Cheese Shop, Nottingham The finalists The top public vote-winners: The Cheese Shop, NottinghamEssen, Beeston, NottinghamshireThe Mediterranean Deli, Wistow, LeicestershireStoughton Grange Farm Shop, Oadby, Leicestershire The winner is The Cheese Shop in Nottingham, one of the region’s most-loved independent food shops, adored by everyone from Michelin-starred chefs to householders with a […]

Drink Producer of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2023/4

Winner Chosen by our judges: Mount St Bernard Abbey Brewery, brewers of Tynt Meadow Trappist Beer, Coalville, Leicestershire Shortlist The top public vote-winners: Mount St Bernard Abbey Brewery, Coalville, LeicestershireThe Rutland Vineyard, Ketton, RutlandLazydog Distillery, Coleorton, LeicestershireKings Cliffe Brewery, Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire The GFC Award for Drink Producer of the Year 2023/24 goes to the […]

Food Producer of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2023/24

Winner Chosen by our judges: Stonehurst Farm, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire Shortlist The top public vote-winners: Stonehurst Farm, Mountsorrel, LeicestershireHome Farm Produce, Grove, Retford, NottinghamshireMarch House Farm, Great Dalby, LeicestershireTori & Ben’s Farm, King’s Newton, Derbyshire The winner is Stonehurst Farm – a superb family operation featuring a farm shop, teashop, open visitor farm, and a motor […]

Pub of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2023/4

Winner Chosen by our judges: The Red Lion, West Deeping, Lincolnshire Shortlist The top public vote-winners: The Red Lion, West Deeping, LincolnshireThe Royal Oak, Great Dalby, LeicestershireThe Radcliffe, Radcliffe on Trent, NottinghamshireThe Stag & Hounds, Burrough on the Hill, Leicestershire The winner is The Red Lion in West Deeping – a village pub where the […]

Cafe of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2023/4

Winner Chosen by our judges: The Harley Cafe, Welbeck, Nottinghamshire Shortlist The top public vote-winners: The Harley Cafe, Welbeck, NottinghamshireDenby’s, Denby, DerbyshireBob’s, Corby, NorthamptonshireThe Side House, Claypole, Lincolnshire The winner is The Harley Café on the Welbeck Estate in North Nottinghamshire – a distinguished finalist in the GFC Awards across multiple years. This is far from […]

A Chat with Five Star Kitchen Contestant Jordan Brady from Leicestershire’s JB Kitchen

If the past few years have shown us anything, it’s that life tends to go in unexpected directions. That’s certainly the case for Jordan Brady, owner and head chef at JB Kitchen in Birstall, Leicestershire, and a former Great Food Club Food Hero of the Year. Just over a decade ago, Jordan was homeless and […]

Great Pubs in Nottinghamshire & Leicestershire – and much more

Great Food Club Digest: Week of June 6, 2023 We are currently counting all the votes for the Great Food Club Awards 2023/4, and we look forward to announcing the shortlist next week. Cheers to Round Corner Brewing! We want to extend our hearty congratulations to Round Corner Brewing of Melton Mowbray. They took home […]

An Unforgettable Dining Experience at Langar Hall, Nottinghamshire

As you cruise up Langar Hall’s driveway, you move between a stunning double line of mature trees before arriving at the charming, apricot-coloured house. Stepping inside, an eclectic mix of styles meets the eye – seamlessly blended to create a comfortable and stylish space that feels both lived-in and chic. There’s a sense of family […]

10 Exceptional Independent Restaurants in Nottingham: A Curated Dining Guide

Delve into our guide featuring 10 of Nottingham’s outstanding independent restaurants. Our experienced editors have explored the city, tasting an assortment of dishes to compile a discerning list of restaurants Nottingham takes pride in. From charming family-owned venues to creative dining spaces, our selection showcases the unique flavours and experiences that define Nottingham’s gastronomic identity.  […]

Great Food Club Awards 2022/23 – The Winners

The Champions Restaurant of the Year – full detailsOrbis, Stamford, Lincolnshire Pub of the Year – full detailsThe Olive Branch, Clipsham, Rutland Food Producer of the Year – full detailsManor Organic Farm, Long Whatton, Leicestershire Drink Producer of the Year – full detailsBrentingby Gin, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire Shop of the Year – full detailsCroots Farm Shop, Duffield, Derbyshire Café of the Year – full detailsRustic […]

Food Hero of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2022/3

Winner Chosen by our judges: Aaron Patterson, Chef Director, Hambleton Hall, Rutland Shortlist Selected by the GFC team: Sara Barton, Founder, Brewsters Brewery, Grantham, LincolnshireJulian Carter, Co-Founder, Hambleton Bakery, Stretton, RutlandHiranthi Cook, Co-Founder, Cidentro Cider, Twyford, LeicestershireAaron Patterson, Chef Director, Hambleton Hall, Hambleton, Rutland The winner is Aaron Patterson for mentoring so many top-quality chefs […]

People’s Choice Award: Great Food Club Awards 2022/23

The GFC’s People’s Choice Award is a new award that goes to the business with the highest number of votes. The winner of the GFC People’s Choice Award 2022/23 is The Vegetarian Rasoi in West Bridgford, Nottingham – a popular takeaway providing authentic vegetarian and vegan Indian meals. The Rasoi is clearly doing brilliant things […]

Food Producer of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2022/23

Winner Chosen by our judges: Manor Organic Farm, Long Whatton, Leicestershire Shortlist The top public vote-winners: Bowthorpe Park Farm, Witham on the Hill, LincolnshireFosse Meadows, North Kilworth, LeicestershireLeicestershire Handmade Cheese Co, Sparkenhoe Farm, Upton, LeicestershireManor Organic Farm, Long Whatton, Leicestershire The winner is Manor Organic Farm in Long Whatton – a family-run farm that’s produced outstanding […]

Bakery of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2022/3

Winner Chosen by our judges: Lily & Honey, Oakham, Rutland Shortlist The top public vote-winners: Baines Bakery, Uppingham, RutlandCakes & Co, Stamford, LincolnshireLily & Honey, Oakham, Rutland The winner is Lily & Honey Bakery in Oakham – a small but exciting bakery where you’ll find exceptional sourdough loaves alongside mouthwatering patisserie. Founded in 2019 by Robert […]

Pub of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2022/3

Winner Chosen by our judges: The Olive Branch, Clipsham, Rutland Shortlist The top public vote-winners: The Castle, Castle Bytham, LincolnshireThe Olive Branch, Clipsham, RutlandThe Millstone, Barnack, Cambridgeshire The Stag & Hounds, Burrough on the Hill, Leicestershire The winner is The Olive Branch of Rutland – one of the region’s best-known pubs, which has won many awards […]

Shop of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2022/23

Winner Chosen by our judges: Croots Farm Shop, Duffield, Derbyshire The finalists The top public vote-winners: Bridge 67 Butchers, Kibworth Beauchamp, LeicestershireCroots Farm Shop, Duffield, DerbyshireCroxton Village Shop, Croxton Kerrial, LeicestershireBulwick Village Shop, Bulwick, Northamptonshire The winner is Croots Farm Shop, which opened in 2008 on the owner’s family farm and has developed into something […]

Drink Producer of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2022/3

Winner Chosen by our judges: Brentingby Gin, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire Shortlist The top public vote-winners: Brentingby Gin, Melton Mowbray, LeicestershireDojima Sake Brewery, Ely, CambridgeshireLazydog Rum Distillery, Coalville, LeicestershireNene Valley Spirits, Sacrewell Farm, Cambridgeshire The winner is Brentingby Gin, which not only distils outstanding gin at its Melton Mowbray HQ, but has also created a stunning […]

Cafe of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2022/3

Winner Chosen by our judges: Rustic Kitchen & Deli, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire Shortlist The top public vote-winners: The Blonde Beet, Stamford, LincolnshireThe Harley Cafe, Welbeck, NottinghamshireThe Hay Barn, Kneesall, NottinghamshireRustic Kitchen & Deli, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire The winner is Rustic Kitchen & Deli in Mountsorrel – a stunning cafe and deli created by Lee Harding and Tom Bower […]

England’s Bread Renaissance

Tim Hart, co-founder and owner of Hambleton Bakery, describes the rebirth of our interest in great bread… The industrialisation of our bread is to some extent universal and inevitable. After all, a large mechanical mixer might mix dough as well as a strong man sweating over a trough.  But the process has gone too far and […]

Why British charcuterie was once an everyday food

By Martin Miller of Loxley’s Larder – producer of charcuterie in the heart of rural Nottinghamshire People think we have no tradition of making charcuterie in Britain, but in reality, it was once commonplace. Just about every rural household kept a pig, which represented a lot of meat when it was slaughtered. With no refrigeration or […]

Share your East Mids tips & win a £50 meal

We want your East Midlands recommendations – your favourite restaurants, most-treasured pubs, dearest delis and choicest cafes. What’s more, we’re going to bribe you for your intel! Each month, there’s a £50 meal-out up for grabs. Scroll down past the gallery to enter. After you’ve entered, please vote for your favourites below by clicking the […]

How to make Colwick cheese

Colwick is a soft, fresh cheese from Colwick in Notts. It hadn’t been made commercially for decades but was suddenly reborn in 2014 when Belvoir Ridge Creamery of Eastwell, Leics revived it. Soon after, Jamie Oliver championed it on the telly. But in 2018, when Jane and Alan from Belvoir Ridge Creamery retired, Colwick production […]

Recipe: Spiced Pear & Blue Cheese Soup by Paul Watters

As we move into the colder months, a bowl of hot soup is the perfect lunch or supper. This recipe combines the sweetness of pear with the delicious tanginess of blue cheese. Paul Watters has more than 30 years’ experience in the culinary industry and has worked in some of the most prestigious kitchens in […]

Great Food Club Awards 2021/22 – The Winners

The Champions Restaurant of the Year – full detailsThe Factory Kitchen, Ilkeston, Derbyshire Producer of the Year – full detailsMill Farm, Manthorpe, Lincolnshire Shop of the Year – full detailsThe Tiny Bakery, Leicester Café of the Year – full detailsSix Hills Café, Bakery & Pizzeria, Six Hills, Leicestershire Street Food Producer of the Year – full detailsChez Sebastien […]

Caterer of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2021/22

Winner Chosen by our judges: Stanley Street, Barnwell, Northamptonshire We’ve chosen Stanley Street as Great Food Club’s Caterer of the Year 2021/22. There was no shortlist for this category this year, but we felt it was high time that we recognised the excellence of this Northamptonshire independent, which has been a finalist in our awards […]