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GFC Awards 2026/7 Bakery of the Year: Breadmill Bakery, Nottingham
Bakery of the Year Finalists 2026/7
The top public vote-winners:
- Coosh Micro Bakery, Nottingham
- Baines Bakery, Uppingham
- The Tiny Bakery, Leicester
- Breadmill Bakery, Nottingham
Bakery of the Year 2026/7: Breadmill Bakery
Breadmill Bakery at Sneinton Market in Nottingham is our Great Food Club Bakery of the Year 2026/7.
Founder and baker Bryan Henesey (pictured) has created something special. Breadmill is small, open and refreshingly down to earth, with Bryan baking in full view of his customers. You can see the craft taking place in front of you and, if you want to talk bread, you’ll find an approachable baker who is happy to share his enthusiasm.
Bryan spent a decade working as a journalist before changing direction and retraining as a baker. After working in bakery kitchens around the region, he opened Breadmill at Sneinton Market in 2023. His products now attract queues, and the operation retains the feel of a no-frills artisan bakery.
The bread is first class. On our judging visit we bought an excellent sourdough: deeply flavoured, well fermented and exactly the sort of straightforward loaf that shows the skill of the baker behind it.
But Breadmill also stands out for Bryan’s more inventive creations. We tried his umami bun, a vegan-friendly bake combining gochujang, spring onions and miso with a maple syrup glaze and kimchi and nori powders. It is typical of Breadmill’s ability to move between classic breadmaking and more playful ideas.
Local connections run through the bakery too. Breadmill has teamed up with fellow Nottingham independent Neon Raptor Brewing Co to create a stout porridge loaf, while some of its freshly milled organic flour comes from Nottingham Mill Co-op, based just a couple of avenues away at Sneinton Market.
The latter makes for an unusually short, intriguing and transparent supply chain. Grain grown by local farmers is stone-milled in Sneinton before some of that fresh flour makes the tiny journey across the market to Bryan’s bakery. In a city with a long milling history, represented nearby by Green’s Windmill, it feels appropriate.
Breadmill’s reputation is growing well beyond Sneinton. In 2026 it was named among The Good Food Guide’s 50 Best Bakeries in Britain – recognition that feels deserved.
What impressed our judges most, however, was the combination of excellent bread, imagination, approachability and artisan craft. Bryan makes the products in front of his customers, takes sourcing seriously and works closely with other independents. Breadmill is friendly, accessible, high quality and unpretentious.
For outstanding sourdough, inventive baking, strong local connections and the passion of the baker behind it, Breadmill Bakery is our Great Food Club Bakery of the Year 2026/7.
The other finalists
Coosh Micro Bakery, Nottingham
Coosh Micro Bakery in Mapperley was founded by husband-and-wife team Rachel and Tom Egan. Everything is made from scratch on site, from small-batch breads and sourdough to pastries, cakes and bagels, with slow production methods and no additives or improvers.
Coosh has built a loyal local following since opening in 2022, with customers regularly buying bread and a growing range of delicious products, including some superbly inventive sandwiches. Its combination of skilled baking, creativity and strong community support earned it a thoroughly deserved place in the final.
Baines Bakery, Uppingham
Baines Bakery represents a very different strand of British baking. Founded in 1867, the Uppingham business is now run by the fifth generation of the Baines family from its characterful 17th-century premises.
Fresh bread, sausage rolls, cakes, buns and seasonal bakes are all produced on site, alongside a selection of local food and drink. Its longevity is remarkable, but Baines remains a living, working bakery rather than a piece of history – and that helped take it into this year’s final four.
The Tiny Bakery, Leicester
The Tiny Bakery on Leicester’s Clarendon Park Road has been a Great Food Club favourite for years. As its name suggests, it is a small operation, but the counter offers an impressive range of artisan pastries, sourdough and yeasted breads, cakes and savoury bakes.
The baking is creative without losing sight of the classics, with everything from croissants and sourdough to seasonal swirls, tarts and vegan options. Add good coffee and friendly service and it remains one of Leicester’s strongest and most-loved food independents.
Congratulations to Breadmill Bakery, Coosh Micro Bakery, Baines Bakery and The Tiny Bakery on reaching the Great Food Club Awards 2026/7 Bakery of the Year final.
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GFC Awards 2026/7 Restaurant of the Year: John’s House, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire
Restaurant of the Year Finalists 2026/7
The top public vote-winners:
Restaurant of the Year 2026/7: John’s House
John’s House in Mountsorrel is our Great Food Club Restaurant of the Year 2026/7.
Set in a 16th-century farmhouse at Stonehurst Farm, John’s House combines ambitious, precise cooking with a direct connection to the land around it. Chef-owner John Duffin grew up here and returned to the family farm after working with leading chefs including Simon Rogan and Marcus Wareing.
The restaurant has built a formidable reputation while retaining a strong sense of place. John’s cooking puts herbs and vegetables on equal terms with meat and fish, with much of the produce grown by the team just a short walk from the kitchen.
Our judging lunch began with a refreshing cordial made with homegrown shiso, an aromatic herb somewhere between basil, mint and tarragon. It set the tone for a meal in which produce from the farm and garden played a central role.
Homemade bread followed, along with a beautifully presented selection of appetisers including venison salami and tomatoes picked from the garden.
From there, Cornish cod and Stonehurst Tamworth pork showcased cooking of exceptional skill and confidence. The plates looked striking but never felt designed for appearance alone. Flavour led throughout, with vegetables, herbs, sauces and garnishes all earning their place.
There are restaurants where the food is technically impressive. John’s House goes further: the food also brings genuine pleasure. Every course felt thoughtful and sophisticated without losing the simple aim of being delicious.
John’s House continues to hold its place as Leicestershire’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, but its award here is based on what our judges experienced at the table. The sense of place, outstanding produce, assured cooking, warm service and individuality of the restaurant made it stand out during this year’s judging.
John’s House is a worthy Great Food Club Restaurant of the Year 2026/7.
The other finalists
The Noel’s Arms, Melton Mowbray
The Noel’s Arms gave our judges an outstanding meal, from the opening canapés and pub-baked bread through to the homemade petits fours. The cooking showed precision from start to finish, backed by excellent presentation and warm, confident service.
The 200-year-old former coaching inn has been carefully restored as a food-led town-centre pub. Its kitchen concentrates on seasonal, ingredient-led British cooking, working with respected suppliers and local farms while retaining the character and approachability of a pub.
The Noel’s Arms was a strong finalist and showed just how high the standard was in this year’s Restaurant of the Year category.
Skein, Nottingham
Skein is a lovely, simple and stylish Nottingham restaurant. Our judging lunch combined good cooking with great service and a relaxed atmosphere. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience from start to finish.
San Pietro, Scunthorpe
San Pietro combines refined Sicilian cooking with warm, family-led hospitality in its striking converted windmill. Our lunch showed exactly why it has become a destination restaurant: confident cooking, polished service and food well worth travelling for.
Congratulations to John’s House, The Noel’s Arms, Skein and San Pietro on reaching the Great Food Club Awards 2026/7 Restaurant of the Year final.
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GFC Awards 2026/7 Shop of the Year: North’s of Rothley, Leicestershire
Shop of the Year Finalists 2026/7
The top public vote-winners:
- Marsh Green Farm Shop, Kelstedge
- Essen General Store, Beeston
- North’s Deli, Rothley
- Origin Farm Shop, Rushton
Shop of the Year 2026/7: North’s Deli
North’s Deli in Rothley is our Great Food Club Shop of the Year 2026/7.
North’s is a rare thing: a genuine village deli and patisserie with its own character, shaped over decades by the knowledge and taste of owner David North.
David is still working in the shop at the age of 84. After more than 50 years in food retail, his experience is visible everywhere. Every product feels as though it has earned its place on the shelves or behind the counter.
David North with Hiranthi Cook, founder of Cidentro Cider
Walking through the door is a pleasure. The counters and shelves are filled with continental cheeses, charcuterie, patisserie, freshly baked pies, tarts and sausage rolls, bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, wines and plenty more besides.
What stands out is the selection. North’s does not feel driven by fashionable brands or flashy packaging. David chooses products because he believes they taste good, and decades of experience have given him a formidable eye for what belongs in a first-class deli.
There is an authenticity to the place that is increasingly difficult to find. North’s is independent and family run, and it feels personal rather than formulaic. The patisserie, deli and café sit naturally together, creating somewhere that works equally well for picking up dinner, buying a bottle of wine, choosing cheese or stopping for something to eat.
It is also a business built around expertise. David knows his products and producers, and that knowledge has helped North’s become far more than a useful village shop. It is a destination for people who care about good food.
North’s has become something of an institution in Rothley, and David North is one of the region’s great independent food retailers. The shop reflects his taste, experience and continued enthusiasm for finding and selling good things to eat and drink.
For its exceptional range, authenticity, personal service and more than half a century of food knowledge behind it, North’s Deli is our Great Food Club Shop of the Year 2026/7.
The other finalists
Essen General Store, Beeston
Essen General Store is one of the region’s strongest deli-cafés. Owners Ed and Sam have created a place where almost everything on the shelves or behind the counter makes you want to investigate further.
The selection is exceptionally well judged. Natural wines, craft beers, pasta, chocolate, cheese and charcuterie sit alongside a superb deli counter, with the team clearly applying the same high standards across everything they stock.
The café side is every bit as good. Essen’s sandwiches use ØKENDE sourdough and come with inventive, carefully chosen fillings, while cheeseboards can be paired with wine or beer. The relaxed setting makes it somewhere you can stop for lunch, meet friends or simply sit with a coffee.
Five years after opening in 2021, Essen has gone from strength to strength. It remains highly selective about what it sells and serves, while retaining a friendly, informal atmosphere.
Origin Farm Shop, Rushton
Origin Farm Shop opened in early 2026 on a working farm near Rushton and has quickly established itself as an impressive new addition to the area.
The smart, well-laid-out shop has a strong butchery counter alongside produce from independent makers including Braybrooke Beer Co, Saxby’s Cider, Gallone’s, Wild & Furrow, Hambleton Bakery and Northampton Cheese Co. There is also space to stop for coffee and something to eat.
The business is run by Thomas White, his wife Chloe and his father Robert, who also operate Origin at Whites in Earls Barton and Thomas Farm Shop in Ecton. The Rushton site uses a converted building on farmland the family bought in 2022.
Marsh Green Farm Shop, Kelstedge
Marsh Green Farm Shop champions Derbyshire produce from its rural setting at Kelstedge. Its shelves bring together a broad selection of local food, while pies and pastries are baked fresh on site using real-butter pastry.
A major draw is the counter operated by Robin Maycock Butchers & Bakery, a long-established family business and former Great Food Club Butcher of the Year. Locally sourced meat, handmade pies, sausage rolls and cheeses give the shop a particularly strong traditional food offering.
The emphasis throughout is on local sourcing, freshness and useful everyday food alongside more indulgent treats – exactly what a good farm shop should provide.
Congratulations to North’s Deli, Essen General Store, Origin Farm Shop and Marsh Green Farm Shop on reaching the Great Food Club Awards 2026/7 Shop of the Year final.
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GFC Awards 2026/7 People’s Choice: The Manor House, Quorn & White Horse, Lincoln
People’s Choice Award Winners 2026/7
Decided entirely by public nomination:
The Manor House, Quorn
145 nominationsWhite Horse, Lincoln
145 nominations
A first for the Great Food Club Awards
The People’s Choice Award is different from our other Great Food Club Awards. There is no judging visit and our panel does not choose the winner. This one is decided entirely by Great Food Club members and readers.
Almost 3,000 nominations were submitted across the Great Food Club Awards 2026/7. The People’s Choice title goes to the business receiving the highest number of valid public nominations overall.
This year produced something we have never seen before.
After duplicate entries were removed, The Manor House in Quorn and White Horse in Lincoln both finished on exactly 145 nominations.
There was nothing to separate them, so both have been named joint winners of the Great Food Club People’s Choice Award 2026/7.
The Manor House, Quorn
The Manor House has been part of Quorn life for more than two decades under owners Kara and Phil Triggs.
When they took it on in 2005, the three-acre site needed, in their words, to be “born again”. Since then, helped by a large team, they have transformed it into a thriving dining pub with accommodation while retaining an important role within the village community.
As a freehouse, The Manor House serves up to four changing cask ales and regularly features in the Good Beer Guide. There is also an extensive wine list for those who prefer something other than beer.
Head chef Johnny and his team run a seasonal kitchen with an emphasis on ethical and local sourcing. Suppliers include Owen Taylor for meat, Charnwood Brewery for beer and Manor Farm Dairy in Thrussington.
The menu moves comfortably between pub favourites such as fish and chips and burgers, pizzas, stews and vegetarian dishes, with Sunday roasts and a broad breakfast menu adding to the appeal.
The Manor House has clearly built a remarkably loyal following. Its 145 nominations make that support impossible to miss.
Congratulations to Kara, Phil and the entire Manor House team – joint winners of the Great Food Club People’s Choice Award 2026/7.
White Horse, Lincoln
White Horse has achieved an impressive amount in a relatively short time.
Founded by Dan Bellamy and Jason Lord-Castle, the Lincoln pub opened in 2023 and quickly established itself as one of the city’s most interesting places to eat and drink. In October 2025, it was included in The Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Pubs list.
The White Horse is the sister pub to the Boot & Shoe in Flintham and follows a similarly focused approach to food. Its compact menu puts produce and local sourcing at the centre of the kitchen.
Small plates might include tempura green beans with ras el hanout yoghurt, Korean fried chicken with pickled cabbage or roasted cauliflower with butterbean hummus and za’atar.
Larger dishes range from Redhill Farm pork tomahawk to venison and imaginative vegetarian cooking, while burgers have also become a strength. The food is backed by a strong drinks offer and a contemporary but relaxed pub atmosphere.
For a business that opened only a few years ago to attract 145 public nominations is a significant achievement and shows how quickly White Horse has built a committed following.
Congratulations to Dan, Jason and the White Horse team – joint winners of the Great Food Club People’s Choice Award 2026/7.
Two winners, decided by you
The People’s Choice Award exists to reflect the strength of public support behind the businesses in our region.
This year, the numbers could not have produced a closer result. After duplicate nominations were removed, The Manor House and White Horse finished level on 145 votes apiece.
So, for the first time in Great Food Club Awards history, we have two joint People’s Choice winners. Congratulations to The Manor House in Quorn and White Horse in Lincoln.
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GFC Awards 2026/7 Pub of the Year: The Five Bells, Claypole, Lincolnshire
Pub of the Year Finalists 2026/7
The top public vote-winners:
Pub of the Year 2026/7: The Five Bells
The Five Bells in Claypole is our Great Food Club Pub of the Year 2026/7.
Of all four finalists, this was the pub that most completely hit the spot for our judges. The bar was lively, the restaurant was buzzing and the welcome was warm from the moment we arrived.
What impressed us most was how naturally The Five Bells works as a village pub. Locals mixed with families, grandparents and grandchildren, groups of friends and couples out for dinner. It felt relaxed, sociable and unpretentious – exactly the sort of place where different generations can happily share the same room.
The food matched the atmosphere. The kitchen takes recognisable pub dishes and gives them enough thought and individuality to keep things interesting without losing sight of what people want from a good pub meal.
We started with scallops and whitebait. The scallops came in rich garlic butter, while the whitebait was served with yellow cornbread. Both were straightforward, generous dishes with plenty of flavour.
Mains continued in the same vein. Beef short rib with mustard mash had clearly been given the time it needed, while charcoal-grilled salmon with orzo was full of flavour. Lemon Bakewell tart finished the meal.
The drinks list showed similar care, with interesting wines alongside a good beer selection. One particularly nice touch came when a member of staff made a point of coming over to tell us that a fresh barrel of guest ale had just gone on.
The young team were friendly and attentive throughout, but the Five Bells never felt over-managed or formal. It retained the easy, natural character of a proper village pub.
That balance is difficult to achieve. Good food matters, but Pub of the Year has to be about more than what arrives on the plate. Atmosphere, beer, service, character and the simple pleasure of spending an evening in the place all count.
For its warm welcome, lively atmosphere, excellent pub cooking and genuine village-pub character, The Five Bells is our Great Food Club Pub of the Year 2026/7.
The other finalists
Boot & Shoe, Flintham
The Boot & Shoe impressed with friendly, knowledgeable service and a smart, characterful interior. The team knew the menu well and were happy to check with the kitchen when they needed more information.
The food was a particular strength. Our table tried dishes including crab and prawn vol-au-vents, Korean fried chicken, picanha steak, côte du porc with chorizo and butter bean stew, chicken with fregola and grilled courgette, and a vegetarian pie.
The cooking was accomplished and well presented, with enough imagination to distinguish it from standard pub fare. Add a good wine list and warm service and the result was a very enjoyable evening.
White Hart, Ufford
The White Hart had the busiest atmosphere of our four judging visits, with couples, families and multi-generational groups filling the pub and restaurant.
It has the feel of a substantial country inn rather than a simple village boozer, with accommodation adding another dimension. The atmosphere was lively and the staff friendly, creating a place that clearly works well for celebrations, family meals and weekends away.
Its combination of attractive surroundings, a busy dining room and strong country-inn character secured its place among this year’s final four.
Plough Inn, Hickling
The Plough Inn remains a reassuringly traditional village pub. Its front snug and open fire give it plenty of character, while friendly service and a good beer selection help preserve the sort of straightforward pub experience many people actively seek out.
The Plough is especially well known for its pies, and with good reason. Our lamb and mint pie was beautifully cooked and served with chips, garden peas and gravy, while the vegetarian lentil shepherd’s pie was equally hearty.
Beer is another strength. Our judges found a good selection on the bar, including Thornbridge and draught Bass, which was particularly well kept. For a filling pie supper and a pint in an old-fashioned village pub, The Plough has considerable appeal.
Congratulations to The Five Bells, Boot & Shoe, White Hart and Plough Inn on reaching the Great Food Club Awards 2026/7 Pub of the Year final.
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GFC Awards 2026/7 Food Producer of the Year: The English Olive Co, Lincolnshire
Food Producer of the Year Finalists 2026/7
The top public vote-winners:
- The English Olive Co, Lincolnshire
- Driver’s Pickles, Leicester
- Urban Dairy, Daventry
- Redhill Farm Free Range Pork, Lincolnshire
Food Producer of the Year 2026/7: The English Olive Co
The English Olive Co in Lincolnshire is our Great Food Club Food Producer of the Year 2026/7.
When you’re standing in the Lincolnshire countryside with an icy wind blowing in from The Wash, 18,000 olive trees are about the last thing you expect to see. Yet that is exactly what farmer David Hoyles has planted across 25 acres of his family farm.
David’s family has farmed here for more than 200 years, traditionally growing crops including wheat, potatoes, sugar beet, peas and mustard. The English Olive Co represents something completely different: a long-term attempt to establish commercial olive growing in Britain.
The scale and ambition of the project immediately impressed our judges. The grove was planted in 2024 and contains 10 different olive varieties, allowing David and his team to learn which are best suited to the soil and climate of this part of Lincolnshire.
There is no established British olive-growing rulebook to follow. Much has had to be learnt along the way, from selecting varieties and adapting growing methods to protecting young trees from hares and rabbits. Italian olive growers have helped with knowledge and advice, jokingly referring to David as the “crazy Englishman”.
But the thinking behind the project is serious. The farm is looking decades rather than years ahead and considering how changing climatic conditions could alter British agriculture.
David says: “Climate change means we’re getting warmer, drier periods. Creating The English Olive Co gives us first-mover advantage, builds a brand we own, and makes us stand out from the crowd.”
The early signs are encouraging. Olives have already been hand-harvested, pressed and bottled using methods adapted with help from Italian growers, whose knowledge, passion and enthusiasm David credits as an important part of the project.
What makes The English Olive Co stand out is the willingness to take a calculated risk and commit significant time, money and land to an idea whose true potential may take years to reveal.
It is pioneering farming in the most literal sense: experimenting, learning and creating something that has barely existed commercially in Britain before.
The project also has significance beyond this one farm. British farmers face difficult decisions about changing weather patterns, crop viability and the future use of their land. The English Olive Co shows what can happen when a farmer is prepared to experiment rather than simply continue doing what has always been done.
Whether Lincolnshire eventually becomes known for olive oil remains to be seen. But David and his team have already created one of the most fascinating agricultural projects we have encountered in the region.
For its vision, courage, investment and willingness to pioneer a completely new direction for British farming, The English Olive Co is our Great Food Club Food Producer of the Year 2026/7.
The other finalists
Driver’s Pickles, Leicester
Driver’s Pickles has roots stretching back more than a century. The Driver family ran grocery shops in Ibstock and Leicester during the 19th century before Frederick Charles Driver established the Driver’s Pickle & Vinegar Company in 1906.
Four and five generations later, the family is still producing pickles. Sarah Driver launched the Drivers Deli range in 2016, initially taking seven products to Leicestershire food fairs. The range has since grown to more than 20, covering everything from dill pickle slices and farmhouse pickle to gin-infused cucumber relish.
It is a strong example of a traditional regional producer continuing to evolve while retaining the identity that made it successful in the first place.
Urban Dairy, Daventry
Urban Dairy makes small-batch raw-milk cheese by hand using local Jersey milk. The emphasis is on patience, careful maturation and allowing each cheese to develop its own flavour and character naturally.
The business grew from more than 13 years of food production experience under the Hamm Tun Fine Foods name before developing into a dedicated cheesemaking operation. Every cheese is handled individually and produced in deliberately small quantities rather than chasing volume.
That commitment to traditional craft has resulted in several Great Taste Awards, while regular appearances at local markets keep the cheesemaker closely connected to the people buying and eating its products.
Redhill Farm Free Range Pork, Lincolnshire
Redhill Farm Free Range Pork is one of Lincolnshire’s standout independent food producers. For more than 25 years, Jane and Terry Tomlinson have put animal welfare at the centre of the farm, rearing Duroc-cross-Landrace pigs outdoors where they can root, wallow and grow slowly.
The family controls the process closely through its on-farm butchery, bakery and smokehouse. Bacon is dry cured and oak smoked, while products including pork pies and haslet are still made by hand.
Redhill Farm has collected considerable recognition over the years, including the Great Taste Supreme Champion award in 2020. Great Food Club has previously named it Food Producer of the Year, while co-founder Jane Tomlinson was our Food Hero of the Year in 2024.
Congratulations to The English Olive Co, Driver’s Pickles, Urban Dairy and Redhill Farm Free Range Pork on reaching the Great Food Club Awards 2026/7 Food Producer of the Year final.
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GFC Awards 2026/7 Drink Producer of the Year: Two Chimps Coffee, Oakham, Rutland
Drink Producer of the Year Finalists 2026/7
The top public vote-winners:
- Two Chimps Coffee, Oakham
- Grainstore Brewery, Oakham
- Northern Tea Merchants, Chesterfield
- Baker’s Dozen Brewing Co, Ketton
Drink Producer of the Year 2026/7: Two Chimps Coffee
Two Chimps Coffee in Oakham is our Great Food Club Drink Producer of the Year 2026/7.
Founders Laura and Andy started Two Chimps in 2016, turning what had begun as a passion for coffee alongside their work as wedding photographers into one of the East Midlands’ most impressive independent coffee roasters.
Ten years later, the business has grown considerably, but it still feels personal, energetic and approachable. That combination made a strong impression on our judges.
The railway-side roastery and shop in Oakham is a superb space. Considerable work has gone into restoring the old industrial building while retaining its character, with original beams, a mezzanine tasting room and the roasting operation visible around you.
It feels like a working coffee roastery rather than a polished showroom – which is part of its appeal. Visitors can see the process, learn about coffee and talk to a team that clearly enjoys sharing its knowledge.
Inside the Oakham roastery
Two Chimps was founded partly in response to a speciality coffee scene that Laura and Andy felt could be confusing and unnecessarily exclusive. Their aim was to make better coffee easier to understand and enjoy.
That approach remains central to the business. Its speciality-grade Arabica coffees come from individual farms or co-operatives, are roasted in small batches several times a week and are ground to order where required.
A simple colour-coded system helps customers navigate different roast styles and flavour profiles even when the origin of a particular coffee changes from harvest to harvest.
The roaster
There is serious knowledge behind the relaxed presentation. The team runs barista workshops, coffee tasting experiences and sessions where customers can create their own blends. Wholesale customers receive training and practical support as well as freshly roasted coffee.
Sustainability is another important part of the operation. Two Chimps works to reduce waste and its carbon footprint, uses recyclable packaging where possible and offsets emissions it cannot remove. It was recognised as Environmental Champion at the 2025 Mercury Business Awards.
What stood out during our visit was the combination of fun, energy and expertise. Laura, Andy and the team take coffee seriously without taking themselves too seriously, and they have built a business that feels welcoming whether you know everything about speciality coffee or almost nothing.
They also work closely with other independent businesses and have created a strong Rutland company with an identity very much of its own.
For excellent coffee, serious expertise, sustainability and a decade spent making speciality coffee more approachable, Two Chimps Coffee is our Great Food Club Drink Producer of the Year 2026/7.
The other finalists
Grainstore Brewery, Oakham
Grainstore Brewery has been part of Oakham’s food and drink landscape for more than 30 years. The brewery was founded in 1994 by former Ruddles head brewer and production director Tony Davis and engineer Mike Davies, who transformed a derelict Victorian grain store beside Oakham railway station into a brewery and tap.
The business is now run by Tony’s son Will Davis and Peter Atkinson, continuing a brewing tradition that has produced a long list of award-winning beers. Ten Fifty, Rutland Panther, Rutland Beast and Nip have all collected major honours, with Nip named SIBA Champion Cask Beer of Great Britain in 2023.
The brewery tap remains an important part of the operation too, helping make Grainstore both an established Rutland producer and a destination for beer drinkers.
Northern Tea Merchants, Chesterfield
Northern Tea Merchants is a specialist tea, coffee and cocoa business with roots stretching back three generations.
Managing director David Pogson established Northern Tea Merchants in 1959 after learning the trade from his father, whose own career in tea began in 1926.
The company personally sources and tastes its teas and coffees, travelling to plantations around the world in search of the products it wants to sell. Today, more than two million cups of its tea and coffee are enjoyed each week.
Its combination of specialist knowledge, longevity and hands-on sourcing secured Northern Tea Merchants a deserved place in this year’s final.
Baker’s Dozen Brewing Co, Ketton
Baker’s Dozen Brewing Co is a two-person microbrewery producing modern cask, keg and canned beers in Rutland.
Established in 2015 after a lifetime spent around pubs and beer, the brewery began with a particular love of hop-forward cask ale and a desire to brew the styles its founders wanted to drink themselves.
The business has grown organically by concentrating on consistency and high standards, building a following among drinkers across the East Midlands and East of England while retaining the character of a genuinely small independent brewery.
Congratulations to Two Chimps Coffee, Grainstore Brewery, Northern Tea Merchants and Baker’s Dozen Brewing Co on reaching the Great Food Club Awards 2026/7 Drink Producer of the Year final.
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GFC Awards 2026/7 Café of the Year: Lil Bo’s Deli, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
Cafe of the Year Finalists 2026/7
The top public vote-winners:
- The Cafe @ Welland Park, Market Harborough
- Kilo Wine Bar, Quorn
- Lil Bo’s Deli, Ashby de la Zouch
- No.8 Delicatessen, West Bridgford
Cafe of the Year 2026/7: Lil Bo’s Deli
Lil Bo’s Deli in Ashby de la Zouch is our Great Food Club Cafe of the Year 2026/7.
Tucked away in Mill Lane Mews, Lil Bo’s is a small, characterful place where local sourcing clearly matters. The shelves are packed with products from nearby producers, ranging from bread and pies to local beer, cider and whisky.
A lot of thought has gone into the space. The layout makes good use of the building, some of the furniture has been specially created and the whole place feels warm and individual. Service during our judging visit was friendly and helpful from the moment we walked through the door.
The food impressed too. Our croque monsieur used Alderton ham and came with a rich béchamel sauce, while the wider menu includes a good range of sandwiches and sourdough bruschetta. Around it sits what feels like a treasure trove of local food and drink, including Wire Works whisky, Tynt Meadow beer and Cidentro cider.
Lil Bo’s occupies a former candle maker’s shop, and its owners have clearly put a great deal of care into both the food and the surroundings. It feels personal, independent and closely connected to the area around it.
Lil Bo’s reached the Cafe of the Year final last year. This time, it has come out on top.
For its warm welcome, strong local sourcing and carefully considered food and drink offer, Lil Bo’s Deli is our Great Food Club Cafe of the Year 2026/7.
The other finalists
The Cafe @ Welland Park, Market Harborough
The Cafe @ Welland Park has an enviable setting in an Art Deco building among the lawns of Welland Park, close to the river. Good coffee, homemade food and cakes, friendly service and covered outdoor seating have made it a popular Market Harborough destination.
Kilo Wine Bar, Quorn
Kilo Wine Bar brings something different to the category. The Quorn wine merchant has developed into an all-day cafe and wine bar where customers can start with breakfast and coffee, return for Italian-inspired sandwiches and panini at lunch, then settle in for wine and something to eat later in the day.
Its relaxed Wine Yard adds an attractive outdoor space, while the strong drinks offering gives Kilo an identity all of its own.
No.8 Delicatessen, West Bridgford
No.8 Delicatessen has been part of West Bridgford’s food scene for around two decades. This family-run deli and cafe keeps things straightforward: good coffee, fresh sandwiches and salads, homemade soup, brunches and pastries from Nottingham’s Tough Mary’s Bakehouse.
Its longevity says plenty. No.8 has remained a valued neighbourhood cafe in an area with no shortage of places to eat and drink.
Congratulations to Lil Bo’s Deli, The Cafe @ Welland Park, Kilo Wine Bar and No.8 Delicatessen on reaching the Great Food Club Awards 2026/7 Cafe of the Year final.
