A Southwell cafe and a Kirklington farm shop are among the finalists for the East Midlands Great Food Club Awards 2020/21 after a public vote.

The awards, which shine a light on the independent food or drink businesses in the region, asked people to vote earlier in the year during the UK’s lockdown period.

“The response has been amazing,” says organiser and Great Food Club founder Matt Wright. “Everyone has been so supportive of their local businesses during this period and it really demonstrates how important these independent establishments are to people, from the local baker and butcher to the local pub.

“We chose the finalists after counting and analysing all the votes and also took the decision to exclude last year’s winners so that we could highlight a greater number of exceptional businesses within a 40 mile radius of our base in Melton Mowbray.”

Over the past few weeks, the judging panel has been anonymously visiting each of the finalists to test cooking, service, facilities, and ethos – before Great Food Club announces the winners later this year.

The winners, which this year include three new categories – Small Deli, Private Chef, and Street Food – will be revealed online on 15th October. Each will receive an entry in the Great Food Club Handbook 2021, which will be published in December, a listing on the website and a unique door plaque.

The Great Food Club Finalists 2020-21

Casual Dining Restaurant
The Brownlow Arms, Hough-on-the-Hill, Lincolnshire
Hitchen’s Barn, Oakham, Rutland
The School House, South Normanton, Derbyshire
Fourwards at Ashfields, Earl Shilton, Leicestershire
Last year’s winner (excluded from this year’s awards): House of Feasts, Eye Green, Peterborough

Café
The Crimson Tree, Sherwood, Nottingham
Bread & Butterflies, West Bridgford, Nottingham
All Mine Cakes, Southwell, Nottingham
Apteekki, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
Last year’s winner (excluded from this year’s awards): The Larder, Oakham, Rutland

Food Shop
Gates’ Farm Shop, Cold Overton, Rutland
Croot’s Farm Shop, Duffield, Derbyshire
Welbeck Farm Shop, Welbeck, Nottinghamshire
Maxey’s Farm Shop, Kirklington, Nottinghamshire
Last year’s winner (excluded from this year’s awards): The Melton Cheeseboard, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire

Butcher
Robin Maycocks, Holloway, Matlock, Derbyshire
Mould’s Family Butcher, Nassington, Northamptonshire
Owen Taylor & Sons, Alfreton, Derbyshire
Roberts of Mountsorrel, Leicestershire
Last year’s winners (excluded from this year’s awards): The Snobby Butcher (high street) and Price & Fretwell (catering)

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