Articles by Tim Burke

Café of the Year: GFC Awards 2024/5 – The Deli at 58, Loughborough

1st October, 2024

Winner Chosen by our judges: The Deli at 58, Loughborough, Leicestershire Shortlist The top public vote-winners: The Deli at 58, Loughborough, LeicestershireLil Bo’s, Ashby de la Zouch, LeicestershireLamberts of Stamford, LincolnshireBob’s, Corby, Northamptonshire The winner is The Deli at 58 in Loughborough – a café with an extremely talented kitchen and a passion for top-quality […]

Magazine

Kuru Kuru Sushi Opens Second Leicester Branch in Clarendon Park

12th September, 2024

By Tim Burke, Leicester Editor Kuru Kuru Sushi, a popular Leicester sushi bar that we recommend on this website, has opened a second branch in the city, this time in the vibrant foodie hub of Queens Road, Clarendon Park. Owner Shyiam noted that many loyal customers from the original Welford Road location live in the […]

Magazine

Kayal Group’s Triumph: Celebrating Awards and 20 Years of Delicious Heritage

9th March, 2024

GFC favourites the Kayal Group have been celebrating. Over the last few months, they have been on a great run of award wins. These have ranged from TripAdvisor naming their vegan restaurant Herb in Leicester the second best vegetarian restaurant in the nation (and 13th in the entire World!) to Kayal winning Restaurant of the […]

Magazine

Restaurant 263 Review: “Affordable Fine Dining” in Leicester

19th July, 2023

When it comes to fine dining, Leicester has been something of a graveyard of ambition. But chef Keith Sadomba’s Restaurant 263 has now spent over a year delivering on its mission of affordable high-end food. This chef previously held the reins at Leicester’s White Peacock. Several of his team from there have stuck with him through some […]

Magazine

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

28th September, 2022

Winner Chosen by our judges: Orbis, Stamford, Lincolnshire Shortlist The top public vote-winners: Orbis, Stamford, LincolnshireDom, Thurlaston, LeicestershireAshiana, North Muskham, NottinghamshireThe Monk, Quorn, Leicestershire The winner is Orbis of Stamford in Lincolnshire – a stylish restaurant offering an eclectic menu of small plates. Orbis offers a tempting selection of dishes, from sirloin of Waygu beef […]

Magazine

Leicester keeps cooking up plans despite lockdown

25th January, 2021

By Leicester editor, Tim Burke It’s extraordinary how despite everything, the food and drink industry continues to show its indomitable spirit. Look, for example, at Leicester’s Clarendon Park which is building its reputation as a foodie destination with several new openings during lockdown. Prominent among them is The Verandah, an Anglo-Indian cafe bar, specialising in […]

Magazine

What Melton Mowbray and other ‘food towns’ can learn from North Brabant in the Netherlands

17th January, 2020

It should come as no surprise that Great Food Club’s HQ is Melton Mowbray. This pleasant Leicestershire market town has a rich farming culture and has been well known for pork pie and Stilton cheese for more than 200 years. In recent years, it has taken this heritage and run with it. Now branded the […]

Blogs Magazine

Farm Shop of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020

31st October, 2019

Winner Farndon Fields Farm Shop, Market Harborough, Leicestershire Finalists Welbeck Farm Shop, Welbeck, NottsMarch House Farm Shop, Great Dalby, LeicsHackwood Farm Shop, Radbourne, Derbys The winner is Farndon Fields Farm Shop of Market Harborough. It started with a farmer selling a few spuds direct from the field out of his garage. Some 36 years later, […]

Featured businesses Magazine

Drink Producer of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020

31st October, 2019

Winner Round Corner Brewing, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire Finalists Brentingby Gin, Melton Mowbray, LeicestershireRothley Wines, Rothley, LeicestershireWitham’s, Grantham, Lincolnshire The winner is Round Corner Brewing of Melton Mowbray for its outstanding, well-balanced beers, relentless energy and policy of teaming up with other food and drink independents. Round Corner was founded by two Irishman who met in […]

Featured businesses Magazine

Lilu’s Pratik Master launches #notjustacornershop

26th February, 2019

Last week I visited a corner shop (aka #notjustacornershop) in Wigston, Leicestershire, that is taking a brave new approach to retailing. Many Leicester food lovers will know Pratik Master for the indefatigable enthusiasm he brings to the running of his top-end Indian restaurant, Lilu (known on social media as #notjustacurry). Now he’s turning his attentions […]

Featured businesses Magazine

Reflections on blogging and Leicester restaurants, by Tim Burke

14th February, 2019

OK, so I’ve not posted a blog for a long time. There are plenty of reasons for this. For one thing, blogging of the type I’ve done over the last 10 years seems to fit less easily with the bite size nature of more instant social media platforms – newsy bits seem better suited to […]

Magazine Reviews & Blogs

Review: Cue, Stoneygate, Leicester

24th July, 2018

When I were a lad, cafés were places to get a full English. Some were bad, some were good. Nowadays they are more likely to involve avocados and chia seeds – but again, some are just following a trend, others are a real treat. Newly opened Cue is definitely in the latter camp. It fits […]

Magazine Reviews & Blogs

Review: The White Swan at Shawell’s ‘Express Lunch’

29th March, 2018

Even the best restaurants, especially in rural areas, can sometimes struggle to pull in strong lunchtime trade. GFC favourite The White Swan at Shawell, Leicestershire (recommended by us here), is in a beautiful village location but is actually well placed for many businesses in Lutterworth, Rugby, Magna Park or indeed those passing through the busy […]

Featured businesses Magazine

45 West launches regular distillery tours

21st November, 2017

Leading light of the craft-gin revival, 45 West of Leicestershire, is well known for its Gin School Experience (10% off for GFC members). It now hosts regular distillery tours, too. The 90-minute events give juniper fans a chance to hear distiller Liam Armstrong explain how he crafts the three main expressions of the company’s Burleighs […]

Featured businesses

A day at Manor Farm Cookery School in Branston, Leicestershire

25th November, 2016

As food and cookery programmes continue to spread across TV schedules, it’s possibly no surprise that more and more people want to get a bit of extra hands-on experience. Throw in the likes of students looking to learn how to cater for themselves, active retired types wanting to indulge passions, and businesses looking for enjoyable […]

Featured businesses

Leicestershire’s Stone’s Dairy – bringing back that traditional dairy taste

30th October, 2016

It’s bit of a cliché for a small-scale, independent producer to claim that their organic alfalfa sprouts or whatever “taste like alfalfa sprouts used to”. However that is the entirely accurate bottom line when it comes to Stones Dairy and its raw (unpasteurised) milk, butter and cream. Farmer Matt Stone and wife Katie may only […]

Featured businesses

Leicester folk set to break down the doors at Delilah Fine Foods

4th July, 2016

Delilah opens in Leicester, plus plenty more goings-on – Leicestershire editor Tim Burke gives a round-up of the latest news on his patch…

Featured businesses Magazine Pubs & restaurants

New Leicestershire & Rutland Cookbook celebrates region’s best

20th May, 2016

Every food lover in Leicestershire & Rutland needs this new book celebrating local independent restaurants, food producers and retailers…

Magazine

Great news for chocolate and gin lovers in Leicestershire

4th December, 2015

Leicester chocolate shop/producer Cocoa Amore expands and Charnwood-based gin distiller 45 West opens its own city bar…

Local producers Magazine

Leics update: Bewicke Arms, Lotus Bakery and Odd John’s Kitchen

26th August, 2015

Leicestershire correspondent Tim Burke with all the latest local food and drink news from his patch…

Magazine Pubs & restaurants

Delilah plots new Leicester venue as Melton Mowbray food school plans develop

24th July, 2015

Leicestershire news round-up by Tim Burke…

Magazine News

Leicestershire asparagus – herald of the summer

20th May, 2015

Tim Burke heads to Cattows Farm in north Leicestershire to report on the arrival of one of our favourite crops…

Local producers Magazine

Leicestershire update: British Pie Awards, Meatcure, Lilu…

9th May, 2015

Leicestershire correspondent Tim Burke reports from the British Pie Awards and shares news of new openings…

Magazine

Four new Leicester venues to check out

21st April, 2015

A handful of new places in which to enjoy burgers, coffees, braises and beers have landed in Leicester…

Magazine

Maiyango Thirty Fifty wine tasting

14th March, 2015

Leicester’s Maiyango is hosting a series of tasting events with UK wine educator Thirty Fifty. Tim Burke attended the first…

Magazine Pubs & restaurants

Meet The Chef: 34 Windsor St, Burbage

9th March, 2015

GFC’s Leicestershire correspondent Tim Burke talks to 34 Windsor St’s new head chef about simplicity and seasonality…

Magazine Pubs & restaurants

Peter Pizzeria creates a stir in Leicester

4th March, 2015

There’s a buzz around the opening of Peter And That’s Enough Pizzeria in Leicester. Tim Burke reveals why…

Magazine Pubs & restaurants

A chat with Two Birds Spirits, Market Harborough

2nd March, 2015

Union Distillers of Leicestershire is a new entrant to the craft spirits scene. Tim Burke finds out more…

Featured businesses Local producers Magazine

North’s Bar & Kitchen, Leicester

1st March, 2015

Leicester’s West End is celebrating the launch of a stylish new independent bar and restaurant…

Magazine Pubs & restaurants

Leicestershire restaurant news: John’s House, Kuru Kuru and Cultura

21st January, 2015

Leicestershire correspondent Tim Burke files his January 2015 report covering three restaurant launches, including a new fine-dining venue on a family farm…

Magazine Pubs & restaurants

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Articles by Tim Burke

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