Tears and cheers at 2022 Flavours of Herriot Country Awards

Hosted by BBC Radio York's Elly Fiorentini at Solberge Hall, near Northallerton, representatives of businesses from across Hambleton and Richmondshire came together to celebrate the achievements of the past 12 months.

The awards had not been staged since before Covid, so the ceremony was also an opportunity to reflect on the resilience of businesses in surviving the hospitality industry lockdowns.

The event began with a minute of applause to honour the late Judy Bell, founder of Shepherds Purse cheeses, and included contributions from John Gallery, of Herriot Country Tourism Group, Hannah Chapman, editor of the Darlington & Stockton Times, and Dr Rosie Page, daughter of James Herriot author Alf Wight, and trustee of Herriot Hospice Homecare.

Dr Rosie Page speaks about the work of Herriot Hospice Homecare

The awards raise money for the charity, with this year's raffle making £1,182, and Dr Page gave an update on its project to provide in-patient palliative care beds at the former Lambert Hospital in Thirsk.

The D&S Times Readers' Choice Award went to Kiplin Hall after a vote which saw hundreds of coupons sent in. Ms Chapman told the finalists: "You should all be really proud that in this age of instant praise, or knee-jerk online criticism, people were passionate enough about what you do that they took the time to cut out a coupon, stick on a stamp, and post it into their local newspaper.

"Totting up the votes took a while, but it was truly heart-warming to see such enthusiasm from our discerning readers."

The 2022 Special Recognition Award was presented to Karl and Cathy Mason of Masons of Yorkshire, who in addition to their hugely successful gin business, opened restaurant Tom and Nellie's in Bedale in September.

Flavours of Herriot Country Awards 2022

Awards chair Irene Myers told guests: "This is so special, to see the reactions from everybody, and I so proud of everybody for getting through the last two years and being here.

"Today is about much more than celebrating the winners and our fabulous finalists, it's a celebration of us all being here together after an unprecedented and difficult couple of years, cheering each other on."

Flavours of Herriot Country Awards 2022, winners and finalists

Breakfast of the Year

Sponsored by Herriot Country Tourism Group

Winner: Yolk Farm, Boroughbridge

Finalists: Tea Time Café, Thirsk, The Green Apple Café & Bistro, Stokesley, North End Café, Bedale, Cross View Tearooms, Richmond

Tea Room of the Year

Sponsored by Solberge Hall Hotel

Winner: High Paradise Farm, Boltby, Thirsk

Finalists: Kiplin Hall, near Scorton, The Joiners Shop, Ingleby Cross, Northallerton, The Station Café l Bar, Richmond, 1 Twenty 7 Café, Northallerton

Local Product of the Year

Sponsored by Shepherds Purse Cheeses

Winner: The Sawley Kitchen, Ripon

Finalists: Taplin & Mageean Ltd, Leyburn, Wensleydale Ice Cream Parlour, Thornton Rust, Leyburn, Winnie’s Yorkshire Delights, Thirsk, Seasonal Salads, Battersby

Specialist Retailer of the Year

Sponsored by Rounton Coffee

Winner: Yolk Farm, Boroughbridge

Finalists: Bagels and Bakes, Thirsk, Cockburn’s Butchers, Bedale, Johnson’s of Thirsk

Afternoon Tea of the Year

Sponsored by TT Kitchen Installations Ltd

Winner: Tea Time Café, Thirsk

Finalists: Bexter’s Tea Room, Stokesley, Simonstone Hall, Hawes, The Joiners Shop, Ingleby Cross, Northallerton, The Pantry, Thirsk

Pub Food of the Year

Sponsored by Hambleton Brewery

Winner: The Staveley Arms, Ripon

Finalists: The Carpenters Arms, Felixkirk, Thirsk, The George and Dragon, Hudswell, Richmond, The Black Bull, Moulton, Richmond

Restaurant of the Year

Sponsored by Hambleton District Council

Winner: Simonstone Hall, Hawes

Finalists: 1783 Bar & Restaurant, Reeth, The Cleveland Tontine, Staddlebridge, Northallerton, The Saddle Room, Coverham, Leyburn, The Wensleydale Heifer, Leyburn

Baked Product of the Year

Sponsored by The Yorkshire Tour Guide

Winner: Two Dales Bakery, Reeth

Finalists: Kala King Chocolate, Alne, The Dessert Pod, Stokesley, The Sawley Kitchen, Ripon,

The Velveteen Rabbit Luncheon Club & Catering Ltd, Great Ayton

Customer Service Team of the Year

Sponsored by Grand Central Rail

Winner: The Velveteen Rabbit Luncheon Club & Catering Ltd, Great Ayton

Finalists: The Green Apple Café & Bistro, Stokesley, The Station Café l Bar, Richmond, Yolk Farm, Boroughbridge, The Pantry, Thirsk

Locally Produced Beer of the Year

Sponsored by Barker Partnership

Winner: Bayonet Brewing, Northallerton

Finalist: The Pennine Brewing Co, Bedale

Young Professional Chef/Catering Student of the Year

Sponsored by North Yorkshire County Council

Winner: Jessie-Jayne Drummond, The Buck Inn, Ripon

Finalists: Ryan Pickersgill, The Station Café l Bar, Richmond, Jack Baldwin, The Staveley Arms, Ripon

Darlington & Stockton Times Readers' Choice Award

Winner: Kiplin Hall

Special Recognition Award

Masons of Yorkshire