It’s congratulations all round at Local Food Britain HQ as three of our members have been recognised as best in county in the Surrey Life Food and Drink Awards 2015.
Garsons of Esher has cause for a double celebration, as the family-owned farm shop won Best in Surrey and was also named Independent Retailer of the Year.
Nigel Chandler, manager of the award-winning shop, says: “This is a tremendous achievement and we are all thrilled. The team has worked extremely hard and it’s great to have that work recognised.”
The Winterdown Road shop at Garson Farm, which has been in the Thompson family since 1871, sells fresh fruit and vegetables – much of which is grown onsite in season – as well as a vast selection of local and regional food and drink.
“Garsons is very community orientated and to be nominated for the award by our customers means a great deal,” adds Mr Chandler, who has been manager of the shop for 22 years.
Meanwhile, Silent Pool Distillers is the toast of Surrey after being presented with the award for Food and Drink Innovation.
Based in renovated farm buildings near the famous Silent Pool on the Duke of Northumberland’s Albury Estate, it’s been a breathtaking few months for the distillery since it produced its very first bottles of Limited Release Gin at the end of 2014, followed by the launch of Silent Pool Gin in February.
With spring 2015 came Albury Limited Gin Cordial, which is made with fresh British strawberries sourced via Kingfisher Farm Shop at Abinger Hammer; it’s a highly quaffable elixir and happens to be delightful drizzled over ice cream, so a bottle doesn’t last very long.
Silent Pool founding director Ian McCulloch says: “We are thrilled to have won the award as it's decided in large parts by the people who really matter, the public, and most importantly our enthusiastic customers. We will continue to innovate and hope to surprise and delight more people in the future.”
Certainly the future looks rosy for Silent Pool, with more limited release seasonal fruit distillates in the offing - and we don’t want to give away too much, but the distillery has just taken delivery of a tonne of fresh apricots and lovers of schnapps should follow progress carefully.
Our third member with a shiny new plaque to display is The Clink Restaurant, Sutton, of which we have long been supporters. Founded by Alberto (Al) Crisci MBE, The Clink Sutton is housed at HMP High Down (a category B prison), and serves up an innovative approach to rehabilitation, with the purpose of reducing reoffending rates amongst ex-offenders.
The Clink works in partnership with Her Majesty’s Prison Service to offer prisoners a unique opportunity to learn new skills, engage with the public and take their first steps towards a new life. Diners enjoy top notch food, all freshly prepared and served by prisoners as part of the training scheme, 2014 alone seeing around 40 prisoners graduate from High Down and its sister scheme at HMP Brixton and enter employment.
The best way to support The Clink Charity and to discover first-hand the incredible story of this initiative is to book a table to dine there.
The winners of the Surrey Life Food and Drink Awards 2015 were announced on 10 September at a black tie dinner at the luxury Foxhills resort at Ottershaw.
Read more about our winning members:
Garsons of Esher
Silent Pool Distillers
The Clink Restaurant, Sutton
Tags: Surrey Life Food and Drink Awards
