Food and Drink Awards Finalists
The finalists for this year’s St Albans Food and Drink Festival Awards have been decided by a public vote.
Residents nominated their favourite pubs, restaurants, cafes and food producers with more than 3,000 votes being registered.
Now the top three in 12 award categories have been revealed.
A judging panel from the Festival’s steering committee will decide the winners by making surprise visits to the venues.
They will mark them according to criteria such as product quality, customer service and atmosphere.
The results will be announced at a glittering dinner on Monday 23 September at the Museum + Gallery.
Residents will be able to follow the ceremony live on Radio Verulam 92.6FM, one of the Festival’s sponsors. The others are SA Law and Oaklands College.
The Food and Drink Festival, now in its 12th year, is organised by St Albans City and District Council with the help of the steering group.
Councillor Mandy McNeil, Portfolio Holder for Business, Culture and Tourism, said:
I’ve been a member of the steering committee since 2016 and know how intense the competition is to get on the shortlist. This demonstrates what a fantastic food and drink industry we have in the District.
We are lucky to have such an amazing range of pubs, restaurants, cafes and other venues.
These awards give recognition to the businesses and individuals who have made St Albans such a wonderful place for dining and eating out.
The awards evening is one of the highlights of the St Albans Food and Drink Festival. Our hospitality community really buzzes with the excitement, there is laughter, tears of joy and everyone cheers each other on. I look forward to seeing the winners unveiled.
Residents will able to sample many of the nominees and winners’ products at the Street Feastival on Sunday 29 September.
This event, one of the Festival’s annual highlights, sees the City Centre closed to traffic from noon to 6pm for the street party.
More than 12,000 people are expected and attractions include more than 70 food and drink stalls, pop-up restaurants and bars, cookery demonstrations and live music.
The Food and Drink Award finalists, located in St Albans unless otherwise stated, are:
Best Restaurant for Special Occasion
Dylans Kings Arms
Tabure
Lussmanns
Best Restaurant for Everyday Dining
L'Italiana
Per Tutti
DavVero
Best Pub
The Reading Rooms, Wheathampstead
The Green Man, Sandridge
The Foragers at the Verulam Arms*
Best Bar
Dylans Kings Arms
The Bishop’s Cave
Craft & Cleaver
Best Café
Hatch
Potting Shed, Sandridge
Fleetville Larder
The Pudding Stop
Best Local Producer
Darlish
Farr Brew, Wheathampstead
Carpenter’s Nursery & Farm Shop
Best Food & Drink Shop
Parker & Vine, Harpenden
Buongiorno Italia
The Refill Pantry
Best Market Stall
Peddling Pizza
Vegan Treats
Eat Wholefood
Best Takeaway
Parker & Vine, Harpenden
Godfrey’s Fish and Chip Shop, Harpenden
The Pudding Stop
Best Place to Work on the Go
Hatch
The Pudding Stop
George Street Canteen
Most Family Friendly
The Waffle House
L’Italiana
DavVero
Best Newcomer
Smallford Farm Shop
The Gin Cave
The Reading Rooms, Wheathampstead
The winner of the Kate D'Arcy Award for Customer Service will also be announced at the awards evening.
The St Albans Food and Drink Festival 2019 runs from Monday 23 September to Sunday 6 October. Details of the events will be available at https://www.enjoystalbans.com/things-to-do/st-albans-food-and-drink-festival/.
*This business has closed and not eligible to win the award. The judges decided to name it as a finalist to honour the public vote.
Picture: Finalist, Lussmanns.
Councillor contact:
Mandy McNeil,
Portfolio Holder for Business,
Culture and Tourism for St Albans City and District Council
Email: mandy.mcneil2@stalbans.gov.uk
Tel: 07584-198999.
Media contact:
John McJannet,
Principal Communications Officer,
St Albans City and District Council
Email: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk
Tel: 01727 296130