Local businesses from across Kent’s hospitality industry gathered for the Kent & Medway Food & Drink Awards last week.
The awards ceremony, hosted at the Spitfire Ground in Canterbury on Tuesday, February 27, saw 12 winners named across categories such as Pub of the Year and Restaurant of the Year.
The nominations were submitted by our readers and narrowed down to a shortlist, with a hand-picked panel of judges then choosing their winners from the final three in each category.
The awards, presented by KM Media Group and sponsored by Café Nucleus, aim to shine a spotlight on rising stars, industry trendsetters and unsung food heroes.
Take a look at this year’s winners, who were snapped at the awards ceremony last week…
Debbie Cooper (right) founded Say It With Gin along with best friend Sharon, who sell their Classic London Dry Gin in personalised bottles to create gifts for special occasions, birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Beverage Producer of the Year
Sponsored by Clive Emson
Winner: Say It With Gin, Ashford
Runners up: Canterbury Cider and Moot Brewery, Halling
Ben Beatty (right) runs Ben’s Kitchen, a food producer specialising in sauces, marinades, spices and oils including pizza oil infused with garlic and basil, a meat rub made with ginger and lime and an Asian glaze flavoured with soy sauce and chilli. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Chef of the Year
Sponsored by kff
Winner: Ben Beatty of Ben's Kitchen, Tonbridge
Runners up: Andy Holden of The Cave, Faversham and Patrick Hill of Thackeray's Tunbridge Wells
Heidi and Jessica Fermer accepted the award for Deli / Farm Shop of the Year. Perry Court Farm has been owned by the Fermor family since the 1950s and, today, it grows and sells apples, pears, cherries, potatoes and asparagus. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Deli / Farm Shop of the Year
Sponsored by Rochester Bridge Trust
Winner: Perry Court Farm, Ashford
Runners up: Brambledown Farm Shop, Sheppey and Macknade, Faversham
Food & Drink Hero Soraya, of soul food truck Mumma Soraya, was unable to attend so (left to right) Alex Redwood, Kerry Campbell and Joe Walker accepted the award on Soraya’s behalf. The truck can be found outside The George pub on City Way in Rochester and is run by Soraya and her partner Bobby, with food based on recipes passed down by Soraya’s father and aunties. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Food & Drink Hero
Sponsored by KSS Air Ambulance Charity
Winner: Soraya of Mumma Soraya, Medway
Runners up: Josie and Sarah of A Better Plaice, Maidstone and Peter of The Bearded Foodie, Dartford
Maya Amangeldiyeva (right) runs Maya’s Community Support Centre, a food bank supporting families, single parents and elderly residents who are struggling with the cost of living crisis, as well as a centre offering free hairdressing and a Ukrainian refugee support hub. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Food Bank of the Year
Sponsored by EKC Group
Winner: Maya's Community Support Centre, Herne Bay
Runners up: Community Cupboard, West Kingsdown and Gillingham Street Angels
Angela Cole (left) of Shepherd Neame presented Suzie Kember (right) with the award for Lower Ladysden Farm, a family-run farm where visitors can pick their own fresh fruit and vegetables throughout the season, including pumpkins in the autumn. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Food Producer of the Year
Sponsored by Shepherd Neame
Winner: Lower Ladysden Farm, Goudhurst
Runners up: Korker Sausages, Cranbrook and Simply Ice Cream, Ashford
Jamil Trofder (Jumeira) presented Sarah Newman and Sergio Gomes with the award for Hotel of the Year on behalf of The Cave, a stylish hotel in Boughton-under-Blean, between Faversham and Canterbury, that has welcomed a number of celebrity guests, including Jesy Nelson, Katie Price, Jordan Banjo and Carrie Hope Fletcher. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Hotel of the Year
Sponsored by Jumeria Restaurant Group
Winner: The Cave, Faversham
Runners up: Port Lympne Hotel, Hythe and The Sun Inn, Faversham
Left to right: Thomas Jenkins (Love Ashford), Scott Tulloch and Andrew Osborne (Love Ashford). Scott, who owns Larry's Mobile Bar, has concocted a selection of signature cocktails such as the ginberry twist or rum punch, and has even sold his drinks at Charlton Athletic FC’s home ground bar after being a lifelong fan of the club. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Kent Hospitality Champion
Sponsored by Love Ashford and Ashford Borough Council
Winner: Scott of Larry's Mobile Bar, Chatham
Runners up: Wendy of The Queen's Head, Kingsnorth and Martin of George & Dragon, Tonbridge
Left to right: Sally Paterson, Holly Thwaites (Lumina Energy) Penny Cooper and Rob Simmonds. The Queen’s Head in Sutton Valence is a village boozer with live music, quiz nights, a large garden, local beers from the likes of Goachers and the Musket Brewery and a menu of tasty pub grub. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Pub / Bar of the Year
Sponsored by Lumina
Winner: Queen's Head, Sutton Valence
Runners up: The Plough, Langley and Three Sisters, Rainham
Darren Smith (NFU Mutual) with Richard Kebbell and Craig Mather from Kebbells, a clifftop seafood restaurant that also serves cocktails and brunch overlooking Viking Bay in Broadstairs. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Restaurant of the Year
Sponsored by NFU Mutual
Winner: Kebbells, Broadstairs
Runners up: Ela Kendro, Gillingham and Rosemont, Folkestone
Left to right: Aaron Sergejenkovs-Telford (Cafe Nucleus), Jack Carter and Harry Fisher. Jack and Harry, along with their friend Abi, run mobile burger truck Bun Buddies, known for serving up dishes such as chilli cheese burgers, crispy fried chicken burgers and dirty fries topped with bacon and cheese. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Street Food / Pop-up of the Year
Sponsored by Café Nucleus
Winner: Bun Buddies, Ashford
Runners up: Mumma Soraya, Medway and Barritos, Iwade
Husband-and-wife team Helen and Ben Donovan (right) transformed Heart of Higham in 2022 and have since been welcoming visitors for all-day breakfasts, lunch specials, sandwiches and cakes. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Tearoom / Coffee Shop of the Year
Sponsored by Gullands Solicitors
Winner: Heart of Higham, Gravesend
Runners up: Bethany's Cafe, Westgate and Coffee Corner, Ashford
