The Champions, awards methodology and the full 2025/6 finalists list.
The Champions 2025/6
Each Champion links to the full judges’ notes.
Restaurant of the Year
The Carpenter’s Arms
Walesby, Nottinghamshire
Food Producer of the Year
March House Farm
Great Dalby, Leicestershire
Shop of the Year
The Cheese Society
Lincoln
Bakery of the Year
Tough Mary’s Bakehouse
Nottingham
Pub of the Year
The Barley Mow
Bonsall, Derbyshire
Drink Producer of the Year
Steep Soda Co
Barrow Upon Soar, Leicestershire
Café of the Year
Public
Loughborough, Leicestershire
People’s Choice Award
Bakery Cottage
Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
Awards methodology explained
How the winners were selected
- Public voting to decide the shortlist
- Mystery diners and judges’ visits
We asked GFC’s members and readers to nominate their favourite food & drink independents. One vote per person. Over 7,000 online votes were cast during May and June 2025. The overall vote winner was named People’s Choice Award Champion. We then chose the shortlist using these measures:
- Votes cast (multiple votes from individuals were discarded)
- Our own knowledge
After the shortlist was created, our judges selected the winners following visits from mystery diners and judges.
Ineligible businesses
Businesses that won GFC awards last year were not eligible to be shortlisted this year. Our aim is to showcase a broad range of independents and by not allowing a single business to win an award two years in a row, we go some way to achieving this aim.
2025/6 Finalists’ List
Finalists are grouped by category for quick scanning.
Restaurant of the Year finalists
- The Carpenter’s Arms, Walesby, Nottinghamshire
- Hemisphere, West Bridgford, Nottingham
- FERN, Uppingham, Rutland
- Piccalilli, Nottingham
Food Producer of the Year finalists
- Home Farm Produce, Grove, Nottinghamshire
- Northfield Farm, Cold Overton, Leicestershire
- March House Farm, Great Dalby, Leicestershire
- Fruit Pig Co, Wisbech, Lincolnshire
Shop of the Year finalists
- Jade’s Farm Shop, Burton Coggles, Lincolnshire
- Belvoir Farm Shop Butchery, Leicestershire
- The Cheese Society, Lincoln
- Bridge 67, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire
Bakery of the Year finalists
- 31 Mallory Bakery, Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire
- Olivia’s Bakery, Leicestershire
- The Tiny Bakery, Leicester
- Tough Mary’s Bakehouse, Nottingham
Pub of the Year finalists
- The King’s Head, Navenby, Lincolnshire
- Hercules Revived, Sutton Cheney, Leicestershire
- The Barley Mow, Bonsall, Derbyshire
- Berkeley Arms, Wymondham, Leicestershire
Drink Producer of the Year finalists
- Steep Soda Co, Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire
- Round Corner Brewing, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
- Revival Rum, Brampton Ash, Northamptonshire
- Saxby’s Cider, Farndish, Northamptonshire
Café of the Year finalists
- The Side House Coffee Shop, Claypole, Lincolnshire
- Six Hills Café, Bakery & Pizzeria, Thrussington, Leicestershire
- Take Italy Bistrot, Grantham, Lincolnshire
- Public, Loughborough, Leicestershire
