The Champions 2025/6
Restaurant of the Year
The Carpenter’s Arms, Walesby, Nottinghamshire
Pub of the Year
The Barley Mow, Bonsall, Derbyshire
Food Producer of the Year
March House Farm, Great Dalby, Leicestershire
Drink Producer of the Year
Steep Soda Co, Barrow Upon Soar, Leicestershire
Shop of the Year
The Cheese Society, Lincoln
Café of the Year
Public, Loughborough, Leicestershire
Bakery of the Year
Tough Mary’s Bakehouse, Nottingham
People’s Choice Award
Bakery Cottage, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
AWARDS METHODOLOGY EXPLAINED
How the winners were selected:
1) Public Voting to Decide the Shortlist.
2) Mystery Diners & Judges’ Visits.
More details…
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 three 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.
The Finalists 2025/6
Restaurant of the Year Finalists
The Carpenter’s Arms, Walesby, Nottinghamshire
Hemisphere, West Bridgford, Nottingham
FERN, Uppingham, Rutland
Piccalilli, 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
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
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
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
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
Bakery of the Year Finalists
31 Mallory Bakery, Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire
Olivia’s Bakery, Leicestershire
The Tiny Bakery, Leicester
Tough Mary’s Bakehouse, Nottingham
