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Photos from the Kent & Medway Food & Drink Awards 2024

15:20, 05 March 2024

updated: 12:28, 24 October 2024

Sam Lawrie

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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

Business Eat Shop Drink Food and Drink Native Sam Lawrie

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