From seafood specialists to tearoom owners, some of this year’s early Gold Award winners share what the accolade means for their businesses and why entering could be one of the best decisions you make in 2026.
The Taste of the West Hospitality & Retail Awards are well underway for 2026 and businesses across the South West are already celebrating. The independently judged awards cover 13 categories spanning hospitality and retail, and for Brett Morton, Director of Dining Pub Gold winner Offshore Bar & Restaurant, recognition meant a great deal: “We are immensely proud to have been awarded the Taste of the West Gold Award 2026 in the Dining Pub category. This award is a stamp of approval for the hard work we put into sharing quality locally produced food and drinks with our customers. The team at Taste of the West are a pleasure to communicate with and the application and judging process is super smooth and professional.”
Winning a Taste of the West award gives teams something to genuinely celebrate, but for many businesses it’s the independent judges’ feedback that proves just as valuable. Ben Hamilton of Hamilton’s Fish explains: “We entered the Taste of the West Awards because they champion the quality and passion behind food businesses across the region. Winning Gold means a huge amount to our whole team. It was particularly rewarding to read the judges’ comments, not only about the website and customer experience, but also about the freshness and quality of the seafood itself.”
Lis and David Brown of Teacup Tearoom entered for exactly that reason: “We entered the awards as it’s always important to get impartial independent reviews on how you are doing with your business. It’s great when customers give you feedback but often they can tell you what they think you want to hear, so the feedback we received from the independent judge was invaluable. When we found out we had been awarded Gold, we were absolutely delighted. We just love promoting the wonderful South West.”
With 13 categories spanning hospitality and retail, there is a place for almost every food and drink business in the South West. From cafés, bars and fine dining to farm shops, butchers and online retailers, the full category list is available HERE.
For Lorna Tapp from Cherry Tree in Weymouth, a Gold win in the retail category has helped shine a spotlight on a new store and the passion behind it: “Taste of the West are fantastic champions of the region’s food and drink industry, celebrating the passion, quality and innovation that make the South West so special. Our shop reflects that same love of great food, a first-of-its-kind concept where customers can taste our full range of products in store. We are absolutely delighted to have won Gold for our Weymouth store!”
Here’s what an award can do for your business:
- Earn a trusted, independently judged mark of excellence that customers recognise and trust.
- Stand out from the competition with official certificates and digital logos to use in your marketing.
- Attract new customers and promote your business with a credible, regional accolade.
- Reward your team and celebrate the people behind your success.
- Receive expert, impartial feedback to help refine and strengthen your offer.
For Chef Matteo Romero at The Duke Hotel, the awards represent something bigger than the accolade itself: “We are truly honoured to be part of the Taste of the West experience. We chose to participate because we strongly believe in the cause it supports, especially championing small, independent, family-run businesses like ours. Being recognised as winners is something we are incredibly proud of, and we are grateful to be part of such a meaningful and inspiring initiative.”
The awards also carry real weight for businesses looking to establish themselves. Craig and Miranda Griffin took over The Jack in the Green in Spring 2024 and entered immediately: “With an illustrious 35-year history as a pub/restaurant, The Jack in the Green occupies a special space in Devon’s independent dining scene. As the new owners, it made complete sense for us to enter these prestigious hospitality awards as we begin to put our own quality stamp on this special business. Winning gold twice in our first two years has provided an endorsement at the highest level for our team, the Jack’s unique brand of hospitality and of the local food and drink that we serve.”
Non-member entry into the Hospitality & Retail Awards costs £160 + VAT. But a full 12-month Taste of the West membership costs just £155 + VAT and includes one FREE category entry as standard. That means joining as a member before you enter doesn’t just save you money on day one: it pays for itself immediately, and then some.
Entries are open across all 13 categories. Judging is ongoing throughout 2026. Enter today at through the website or call: 01404 822012 and Email: lily.lawton@tasteofthewest.co.uk
