Shop of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2021/22
Winner Chosen by our judges: The Tiny Bakery, Leicester Shortlist The top public vote-winners: The Tiny Bakery, LeicesterHamilton’s Butchers & Cheeky Pig Takeaway, Farnsfield, NottinghamshireCroots Farm Shop, Duffield, DerbyshireCocoa Amore, Leicester The winner is The Tiny Bakery in Leicester – a small, independent patisserie and coffee shop in the city’s Clarendon Park area. Our judges […]
Café of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2021/22
Winner Chosen by our judges: Six Hills Café, Bakery & Pizzeria, Six Hills, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire Shortlist The top public vote-winners: The Haybarn at Kneesall, NottinghamshireBurrough Court Coffee Shop, Burrough on the Hill, LeicestershireSix Hills Café, Bakery & Pizzeria, Six Hills, Melton Mowbray, LeicestershireCosy Cafe, Hinckley, Leicestershire The winner is Six Hills Café, Bakery & […]
Restaurant of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2021/22
Winner Chosen by our judges: The Factory Kitchen, Ilkeston, Derbyshire Shortlist The top public vote-winners: The Factory Kitchen, Ilkeston, DerbyshireThe Red Lion, West Deeping, LincolnshireTap & Run, Upper Broughton, NottinghamshirePaddy’s Marten Inn, Leicester The winner is The Factory Kitchen – a cafe-by-day and restaurant-by-night set in an old factory in the former coal-mining town of […]
Food Hero of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2021/22
Winner Chosen by our judges: JB Kitchen, Thurcaston, Leicestershire Shortlist The top public vote-winners: Derby Pyclet Co, Derby – Nominated for reviving the Derbyshire pyclet.Radmoor Restaurant, Loughborough – Nominated for providing valuable training to hospitality students.JB Kitchen, Thurcaston, Leicestershire – Nominated for creating an excellent food business in the face of adversity.Ferneley’s Milk, Whissendine, Rutland – Nominated for launching a […]
Producer of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2021/22
Winner Chosen by our judges: Mill Farm, Manthorpe, Lincolnshire Shortlist The top public vote-winners: Mill Farm, Manthorpe, LincolnshireRound Corner Brewing, Melton Mowbray, LeicestershireFarmer Lou, Oakham, RutlandRuddy Fine Gin, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire The winner is Mill Farm of Manthorpe – a family-run farm and butcher’s shop that started life in the 1940s. It sells its own lamb and […]
Street-Food Producer of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2021/22
Winner Chosen by our judges: Chez Sebastien Artisan Pizza, Melton Mowbray Shortlist The top public vote-winners: The Cod’s Scallops, Nottinghamshire & LeicestershireStanley Street Food, Barnwell, NorthamptonshireAmelie, CambridgeChez Sébastien Artisan Pizza, Melton Mowbray The winner is Chez Sebastien Artisan Pizza of Melton Mowbray – a small, family-run business that produces wood-fired pizzas. Our judges were impressed by […]
Chef Q&A: Marcel Acostoaie, Private Chef
Experienced chef Marcel Acostoaie believes in a farm-to-table approach and likes to keep things simple. We caught up with him for a quick chat… What is your earliest childhood food memory?“Trying not to burn the house down cooking a seven-egg omelette when I was about five!” What is your favourite dish to cook for friends […]
Belvoir Castle’s Engine Yard launches farm shop and brasserie
A long, long time ago there was a very hungry lady. You might even say she was hangry. One day she visited her friend, the fifth Duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle near Grantham, and complained that the gap between lunch and dinner was almost unbearable. It was the mid-1840s and the lady was Anna […]
Cambridgeshire Member Offers
Below is a list of places in Cambridgeshire where GFC members can claim special offers by showing their digital or hard-copy membership card. You get a digital and hard-copy membership card when you join Great Food Club here. The Three HillsDean Road, Bartlow, Cambridgeshire, CB21 4PWMidweek dinner, bed and breakfast for two (three courses from […]
Chef Q&A: Daniel Cain, head chef at The Palfrey in Derby
Daniel Cain is head chef at The Palfrey in Derby. We recently enjoyed a brilliant lunch and exceptional service at this city-centre restaurant tucked away in Blacksmith’s Yard, just off Sadler Gate. Daniel brings real passion and skill to his role. We put some quick-fire questions to him… What is your earliest childhood food memory?“Going […]
Stamford licks its lips as Orbis comes to town
Jonathan Spencer is a busy man – he is the owner of both the popular Hoppi Dorri Asian-fusion restaurant in Stamford, south Lincolnshire, and Orbis in Oakham, Rutland. And this month he will open a third venue because Orbis is set to replicate its winning formula in Stamford. We’d seen a buzz building on Facebook […]
Chef Q&A: Jordan Brady, head chef & founder, JB Kitchen Thurcaston
Jordan Brady is head chef and owner of JB Kitchen Thurcaston in Leicestershire. His cooking skills (not to mention his entrepreneurial get-up-and-go) have wowed many of us during lockdown. He specialises in delivering fresh, restaurant-quality food to your door. In the first in a new series of chef Q&As, we put some quick-fire questions to […]
How to use our East Midlands alfresco dining & beer garden map
All being well, outdoor dining spaces will open on April 12. So you may want to use our alfresco and beer garden map of GFC-recommended independents in the East Midlands. Here’s how to use it… 1) Go to the Guide Page.2) Scroll down slightly to find the search form.3) Enter your location or postcode into the […]
The perfect last-minute Christmas gift for foodies
Would you like to send a last-minute gift to the foodie in your life? If so, how about a Great Food Club Gift Pack? Each contains: — Christmas card — Membership card that unlocks 175+ exclusive deals— Gift message of your choice— The new Great Food Club Handbook 2021* *Cards will arrive before Christmas. Handbook […]
Stamford’s ‘Whyte Wytch’ to open creamery in Sacrewell’s Artisan Courtyard
A cheesemaker is to open a creamery at Sacrewell Farm’s new Artisan Courtyard near Wansford in Cambridgeshire. Alison Williamson from Stamford launched Whyte Wytch in 2020 after retiring from her role in IT. The white cheese takes six-weeks to mature and there are 100 rounds per batch. A cross between camembert and brie, it can […]
The Lighthouse and Boboli in south Leicestershire launch takeaway menus
The Lighthouse in Kibworth Beauchamp and Boboli in Kibworth Harcourt have launched takeaway menus. You can view The Lighthouse’s takeout menu here and Boboli’s takeout menu here. The restaurants, both owned by Sara and Lino Poli, are recommended by Great Food Club and also offer GFC card-holders 10% off the total bill (exclusions apply, […]
10% off Cocoa Amore’s decadent chocolate-making kits for GFC members
It might not feel like it, but Christmas is just around the corner. Cocoa Amore have got some fabulous chocolate making kits to indulge in. Whether you’re looking for stocking fillers, for lockdown gifts to send loved ones, or for a delicious family activity, these are the perfect chocolatey treats! Each kit includes all the […]
Food Shop of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020/21
Winner Welbeck Farm Shop, Welbeck, Nottinghamshire Finalists Gates Farm Shop, Cold Overton, RutlandCroot’s Farm Shop, Duffield, DerbyshireMaxey’s Farm Shop, Kirklington, Nottinghamshire The winner is Welbeck Farm Shop on the Welbeck Estate near Worksop. This sumptuously stocked shop would be a treat even if it didn’t showcase produce from the food and drink hub that is […]
Food Producer of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020/21
Winner Manor Farm Yogurt, Thrussington, Leicestershire Finalists Fruit Pig, Wisbech, CambridgeshireLincolnshire Poacher Cheese, Ulceby, LincolnshireBytham Kitchen, Bourne, Lincolnshire The winner is Manor Farm in Thrussington for its outstanding yogurt. When you taste it, you’ll understand why – Manor Farm products are exceptional. The ‘Natural Live Smooth & Creamy’ variety is velvety rich, deeply creamy, fresh […]
Farm Shop of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020/21
Winner Tori & Ben’s Farm Shop, Kings Newton, Derbyshire Finalists March House Farm Shop, Great Dalby, LeicestershireGrazers of Ashby Parva, LeicestershireNorthfield Farm, Cold Overton, Rutland The winner is Tori & Ben’s Farm Shop & Butchery in south Derbyshire. This shop feels special, from the moment you park your car opposite the pretty stone building. Inside […]
Fine-Dining Restaurant of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020/21
Winner Alchemilla, Nottingham Finalists The Jew’s House, LincolnHambleton Hall, near Oakham, RutlandJohn’s House, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire The winner is Alchemilla in Nottingham – a stylish modern venue under vaulted arches that has very quickly become one of the Midlands’, if not the UK’s, most exciting restaurants. Alchemilla offers a choice of tasting menus with matched wines. We selected […]
Casual-Dining Restaurant of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020/21
Winner Hitchen’s Barn, Oakham, Rutland Finalists The Brownlow Arms, Hough on the Hill, LincolnshireThe School House, South Normanton, DerbyshireFourwards at Ashfields, Earl Shilton, Leicestershire The winner is Hitchen’s Barn in Oakham, which impressed with its good-quality seasonal cooking, local sourcing, and convivial service and atmosphere. Our judges’ meal included an excellent smoked haddock scotch egg; loin of […]
Dining Pub of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020/21
Winner The Stag & Hounds, Burrough on the Hill, Leicestershire Finalists The Falcon at Fotheringhay, NorthamptonshireThe Willow & Brook, Apethorpe, NorthamptonshireThe Blue Ball, Braunston, Rutland The winner is The Stag & Hounds at Burrough on the Hill – a genuine, friendly and down-to-earth village pub that also offers accomplished, seasonal cooking. Head chef and co-owner […]
Classic Pub of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020/21
Winner The Marquis of Granby, Granby, Nottinghamshire Finalists The Geese & Fountain, Croxton Kerrial, LeicestershireThe Blue Cow, South Witham, LincolnshireThe Frame Breakers, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire The winner is The Marquis of Granby in the village of Granby, Nottinghamshire. This compact, cosy and welcoming pub is the brewery tap for Brewster’s Brewery of Grantham. There are no […]
World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020/21
Winner Kushi-Ya, Nottingham Finalists Orbis, Oakham, RutlandAnoki, DerbyZada, Stamford, Lincolnshire Kushi-Ya is the winner for its authentic, inventive and mouthwatering Japanese cooking. This laid-back restaurant on the first floor of a historic building in Nottingham city centre has a cool, attic-loft feel, with wooden beams and skylights. The restaurant specialises in kushiyaki – ingredients that have been skewered and […]
Café of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020/21
Winner All Mine Cakes by the Lake, Maythorne, near Southwell, Nottinghamshire Finalists The Crimson Tree, Sherwood, NottinghamBread & Butterflies, West Bridgford, NottinghamApteekki, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire The winner is All Mine Cakes by the Lake – a beautiful, tranquil and extremely professionally run gluten-free café set by fishing lakes in Maythorne near Southwell. Former nurse Hayley […]
Butcher of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020/21
Winners Robin Maycock Butchers, Holloway, Matlock, Derbyshire – Butcher of the YearOwen Taylor & Sons, Alfreton, Derbyshire – Catering Butcher of the Year Finalists Mould’s Family Butcher, Nassington, NorthamptonshireRoberts of Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, Leicestershire Robin Maycock Butchers & Bakery in Holloway near Matlock wins our Butcher of the Year 2020/21 title. It is an exceptional traditional butcher’s shop with […]
Deli of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020/21
Winner Thrussington’s Village Store, Thrussington, Leicestershire Finalists The Bottle Top, Ruddington, NottinghamshireChristopher James Deli, LeicesterWigston Fields News & Deli, Wigston, Leicester Thrussington’s Village Store is the winner for being as close to a perfect little village deli and tearoom as it’s possible to get! Overlooking the village green, it’s everything you could want from a […]
Drink Producer of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020/21
Winner Braybrooke Beer Co, Braybrooke, near Market Harborough, Northamptonshire Finalists Brentingby Gin, Melton Mowbray, LeicestershireWhite Peak Distillery, Ambergate, DerbyshireNapton Cidery, Napton, Warwickshire The winner is Braybrooke Beer Co for its impeccable range of lagers. This specialist lager brewery on a farm near the Leicestershire/Northamptonshire border has only been brewing since 2018 but has created beers […]
Bakery of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020/21
Winner The Bakehouse, Sherwood, Nottingham Finalists Beauvale Priory Bakehouse, Moorgreen, NottinghamshireBisbrooke Artisans, Bisbrooke, RutlandLily & Honey, Oakham, Rutland The winner is The Bakehouse in Sherwood – not only for its impressively broad range of excellent-quality breads, cakes, pasties and sourdoughs, but also for its dynamic industriousness. Walk into The Bakehouse and you’ll find an alluring […]
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