Finalists revealed in Taste of Kent Awards

Press release: 22 January 2019

Top three finalists revealed in Taste of Kent Awards 2019

Public voting has now closed for the Taste of Kent Awards 2019 and Produced in Kent can reveal the top three finalists in the categories voted for by the public. This elite top three will now enter the final stages of judges’ scrutiny and they will be hoping to be crowned winners at the black-tie awards dinner on Thursday 7 March 2019 at the Kent Event Centre. The top three finalists (in alphabetical order) are: Kent Beer of the Year, sponsored by Eurostar International Gadds’ No 11 by Ramsgate Brewery Good Sheppard by Goody Ales, Herne Bay Reliant Robin by Rockin Robin Brewery, Maidstone Kent Butchers Shop of the Year Hammond's Butchers, Matfield Shaun and Steve O'Meara butchers, Isle of Sheppey S.W.Doughty, Doddington Kent Cider or Perry of the Year, sponsored by Wilkins Kennedy Biddenden Strong Kentish Cider, Biddenden Vineyards Disco Dudda, Dudda’s Tun Cider, Doddington High Diver, Kentish Pip, Bekesbourne Kent Coffee Shop or Tea Room of the Year – Sponsored by Barretts of Canterbury Café Nucleus, Chatham The Independent Pedaler, Bridge The Yard, Faversham Kent Dining Pub or Bistro of the Year – Sponsored by University of Kent The Butcher’s Block, Burham The Ferry House Inn, Sheerness The King’s Head, Wye Kent Food Producer of the Year, sponsored by Insight6 Kent Crisps & Kentish Oils, Bridge Precious Porkers, Collier Street Vegan Perks, Faversham Kent Local Food Retailer of the Year, sponsored by Bennett Opie Austen's of Rochester Barham Village Store, Barham MB Farms Food Hall, Faversham Kent Restaurant of the Year – Sponsored by Thomson, Snell & Passmore The Corner House, Canterbury The Small Holding, Kilndown Thackeray’s, Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent Tastiest Juice of the Year, sponsored by AC Goatham & Son Kentish Cherry Juice, Dallaways Cherries, Northiam Park Farm Apple juice, Taywell farm shop, Goudhurst Red Love Apple Juice, Biddenden Vineyards Kent Wine of the Year, sponsored by NFU Mutual Bacchus, Chapel Down, Tenterden Kits Coty Chardonnay, Chapel Down, Tenterden Ortega, Biddenden Vineyards The Taste of Kent Awards are organised by Produced in Kent and showcase the very best products and food and drink businesses across Kent and Medway. Stephanie Durling, Manager at Produced in Kent comments: “We have had a fantastic level of participation from both the public and the food and drink businesses here in Kent once again this year. Incredibly, we have seen 25% more businesses nominated and 40% more votes cast overall than last year.” “Our brand-new category coffee shop/tea room has received the most votes for any new category ever and we have had a record number of fruit juice votes this year. It is fantastic for so many new businesses being nominated, with different areas engaging, none more so than the Isle of Sheppey. Also, for the first time ever a low alcohol beer Gadds’ No. 11 and Vegan Perks from Faversham is the first vegan business to have reached the finals, reflecting current trends, tastes and choices consumers are now making. Stephanie Durling continues: “The Food and Drink sector here in Kent contributes significantly to the county’s local economy and employs thousands of people. Whilst not every nominated business can make it into the final three, we are delighted that the public have already given so many the important recognition and thank you that they deserve.” The top three in each category make it through to the final round of tasting, mystery shopping, mystery dining and expert judging panels and the winners will be announced at the Taste of Kent Awards Gala dinner, which takes place 7 March 2019 at the Kent Event Centre, Detling. New for this year’s awards, in mid-February the top three finalists in the Kent Food Product Classes will be publicised with the winners being revealed at the awards dinner. This category is self-nominated so not open to the public vote with products being judged by a panel of experts.