Velvet Food & Drink Awards: Nominations are open!
Whether you're a fan of a particular restaurant, cafe, shop or street food van, now's the time to nominate them - in the Velvet Food & Drink Awards
Welcome to the first annual Velvet Food & Drink Awards! With our area home to an increasingly delicious food and drink offering - where both old-favourite and start-up brands continue not only to survive but thrive, often against the odds - we felt it was time to give the people behind this culinary success a pat on the back. . . and so these awards, presented in association with headline sponsor KUCO, were born.
Because we want to give credit where the residents of our area genuinely consider it due, we’re asking members of the public - that’s YOU - to nominate their favourites in each of our eight categories: Producer, Farm Shop/Deli, Pub/Bar, Tearoom/Coffee Shop, Street Food/Pop-up, Restaurant, Chef and Food Hero of the Year.
Any business or individual working within Velvet’s circulation area is eligible and nominating is easy - just fill in the swift and simple form at velvetfooddrinkawards.co.uk, telling us what makes them stand out from the culinary crowd. (If you need a little nudge: in entering, your name will automatically go into a draw to win a dinner-and-drinks voucher for two.)
You’ve got between now and midnight on May 31 2023 to get your nominations in. The three businesses or individuals with the most nominations per category will then be shortlisted and the winners chosen by a panel of independent, industry-expert judges - you can find their bios on the awards site.
Together with KUCO and our other sponsors and partners, we will then announce those winners at a special champagne-and-canape reception at Newmarket’s historic Jockey Club Rooms, taking place on the afternoon of Friday, June 30.
So whether you’ve got a soft spot for a particular bakery’s buns, swear the coffee in your local cafe can’t be beaten or book every special–occasion meal at a specific restaurant, we want to hear from you! These awards are YOUR awards, so get those nominations in. . .
Producer of the Year
In association with: Howes Percival
From cottage industries to large-scale manufacturers, this category is open to all producers, whether they are growing fruit and veg, brewing their own beer, baking bread or making cakes. The winner will be driven by both a personal passion and stellar professional standards.
Farm Shop/Deli of the Year
In association with: Group 1 BMW Cambridge
We’re looking for stores which sell the highest quality local, seasonal and speciality goods, are staffed by knowledgeable and helpful teams, and provide a welcoming atmosphere too - all of which turns the weekly shop from chore to pleasure.
Pub/Bar of the Year
In association with: Cameron Ventures Group
All pubs and bars are eligible, no matter what their theme or style, but good vibes and excellent drinks are essential. There must be something which sets this venue above the rest, whether it doubles as a community hub or simply serves best-in-class beer.
Tearoom/Coffee Shop of the Year
In association with: Thomas Ridley
With our area home to numerous outstanding tearooms, coffee shops and cafes- and more opening every month - this is set to be a hotly contested category. The winner will provide excellent food, drink, service and ambiance.
Street Food/Pop-up of the Year
In association with: Rutherford’s Punting
Open to street food vans, pop-up restaurants and kitchen takeovers, this award will go to a business which brings fun, flair and lots of flavour to the local menu, whether they’re flipping crepes, topping tacos, building Buddha bowls or scooping gelato.
Restaurant of the Year
In association with: Kale & Damson
The winner of this category will offer all-round excellence, topping the charts with its menu, drinks list, service and venue. It will be distinctive too; setting rather than following culinary trends.
Chef of the Year
In association with: Kale & Damson
If you know a chef whose menus always delight and never disappoint, this is their category. The top spot will go to someone who’s pushing culinary boundaries, whether innovating with new flavours, textures, techniques or zero-waste menus, and inspiring both diners and the next generation of chefs along the way.
Food & Drink Hero
In association with: Jockey Club Rooms
The winner of this award will be absolutely outstanding at what they do. Whatever food and drink role they play, what marks them out is the excellence they deliver and their willingness to champion the talents of others as well as their own.
Nominate Now!
Head to velvetfooddrinkawards.co.uk to nominate your favourite in each of our eight categories - and your name will automatically be entered into a draw to win a dinner-and-drinks voucher for two.
Along with our sponsors, we are pleased to have three partner brands supporting our debut Velvet Food & Drink Awards:
Community Sponsor: Cambridge BID
Networking Partner: Grub Club Events
Broadcast Partner: Cambridge 105 Radio
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Alice Ryan