| 2007 South of England winners |
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1. Best Local Food Category: Big Bang, Oxfordshire 2. Best Shop / PO Category: Ascott under Wychwood Village Shop, Oxfordshire NATIONAL COMMENDATION 3. Best Diversification Category: Barn Store, Hampshire 4. Best Traditional Business Category: FE Coles, Northamptonshire 1. Best Local Food Category: Big Bang 124 Walton Street Jericho Oxford Oxfordshire OX2 6AH http://www.thebigbangoxford.co.uk/ This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 01865 511441 Sara Rutherford, Regional Director for the South and leader of the local judging panel says: “This wonderful restaurant offers nothing but sausages from the local area, ensuring that food miles are reduced to a minimum, and that each time a customer dines there, they are supporting local suppliers. Their food is sourced from within a 20 mile radius and their message is focussed on buying local - their tag line is 'smile you're buying local'. They really support local farming and production, and their carbon footprint is tiny.” http://www.thebigbangoxford.co.uk/ 2. Best Shop / PO Category: Ascott under Wychwood Village Shop NATIONAL COMMENDATION Cooks Row High Street Ascott under Wychwood Oxfordshire OX7 6FY www.ascott-under-wychwood.org.uk/shop 01993 831240. Sara says: “The loss of the village shop some years ago on the owners’ retirement was keenly felt by the whole community. Grasping the opportunity to have a brand-new one as part of a property development, a volunteer group worked miracles, raising funds from the residents, completely fitting out the bare shell and stocking the shelves. The result is stunning and has become pivotal to the community. The group of over 40 volunteers who run the enterprise are passionate about serving and uniting the local community and devote countless hours both on and off stage to that end. In July, the village was overwhelmed by floods for the first time in 150 years, forcing many from their homes. Barely escaping the waters, the shop was manned by a rota of volunteers, donating emergency packs to the needy and serving a never-ending stream of customers with staples, ready meals and some wine to ease the pain. Not only that, the store became a nerve-centre for help and information. Everyone involved was pleased and proud to have acted as a lifeline in the crisis.” 3. Best Diversification Category: Barn Store Offwell Farm Southwick Fareham Hampshire PO17 6DX www.barn-store.co.uk/farehamcontact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 02392 384888 Sara says: “At his farm on the Southwick Estate Martin Bazeley and his wife Audrey have achieved imaginative and successful diversification projects without detriment to core dairy production. Barn Store was originally Martin's idea and has now developed into a successful and expanding franchise within Hampshire and beyond. By following Martin's lead other farmers have been able to establish diversifications which sit comfortably with their core production. Recognised for his pathfinding use of redundant farm buildings Martin is utterly committed to the diversification ethos and is thoroughly deserving of wider recognition for the benefits his initial research and work has brought to other farmers.” http://www.barn-store.co.uk/ 4. Best Traditional Business Category: FE Coles The Gables Twywell Kettering Northamptonshire NN14 3AH Sara says: “In this day and age it is a rarity to find a high class traditional family butcher with its own abattoir serving lovely local meat and produce. On top of this is a wealth of knowledge that is used in a helpful and courteous way for customers.” |
