Dartmoor food and drink businesses celebrate success in prestigious Devon awards
Several Dartmoor-area businesses received recognition at one of Devon’s major food and drink awards earlier this month
From an award-winning vineyard near Okehampton to a vegetarian café in Ashburton, several businesses in and around Dartmoor have been recognised at this year’s Food Drink Devon Awards.
The awards, which celebrated their 15th anniversary earlier this month, brought together 420 guests at Sandy Park in Exeter to recognise the county’s food producers, hospitality businesses and independent retailers.
Among the winners were businesses from across the Dartmoor area, recognised for everything from wine and granola to cookery teaching and café dining.
The Moorlander spoke to four of the local businesses celebrating success, to find out what the awards mean to them.
1. Alder Vineyard, Lewdown, Okehampton - Devon Wine of the Year
Alder Vineyard took home the Devon Wine of the Year award for its Madeleine Angevine still wine, with the team describing the win as an unexpected honour.
“We are over the moon with our recent awards!” said Tom Hodgetts, Head Wine Wizard at Alder Vineyard.
“Achieving ‘Devon Wine of the Year’ was an incredible surprise and privilege, especially being the very first still wine to win this award.”
The vineyard’s café also received a Gold award, which Mr Hodgetts said recognised the hard work of staff following a busy summer.
He said the business aimed to champion local produce, serving freshly made dishes alongside its own wines, with views across the valley towards Dartmoor.
Looking ahead, Alder has launched a winter menu and continues to host its monthly ‘Live in the Vines’ music afternoons on the last Sunday of each month.
The team is also preparing to launch its Christmas Winemakers Tours in December, offering visitors the chance to enjoy food and wine at the vineyard.
2. Westloaf, Bridestowe, Okehampton - Platinum award for Sunrise Granola
Penny Westlake of Westloaf received a Platinum award for her Sunrise Granola, recognising the product among the top-scoring entries in the Food Drink Devon Awards.
The granola is made in small batches using ingredients including organic, gluten-free English jumbo oats, Dartmoor honey, local apples, Dartmoor gorse flower and rapeseed oil from South Devon producer Bell & Loxton.
Ms Westlake said the recognition was particularly meaningful after three years of building the business.
“Having the recognition that yours is one of the top 20 products in Devon is a wonderful testament to all of the hard work over the last three years and the sacrifices I have made to start and grow the business,” she said.
She now supplies 30 farm shops and delis, as well as some luxury hotels, and said being part of Food Drink Devon had provided valuable advice and support.
Next on the agenda is the launch of Westloaf’s Yuletide granola, featuring dark chocolate, cranberries, orange zest and cinnamon.
Ms Westlake is also planning to offer more baked goods through the business’s website and hopes to use more locally sourced fruit in future granola varieties.
3. Ashburton Cookery School - Best Training School
Ashburton Cookery School was named Best Training School, recognising its work teaching cooking skills to home cooks and aspiring professional chefs.
The school’s managing director, Dominic O’Nions, said the award reflected the contribution of the whole team, from tutors to staff working behind the scenes.
“We’re absolutely delighted,” he said.
“We have a top-class team of expert tutors who put a great deal of care into helping our students learn, enjoy themselves and leave with greater confidence in the kitchen, whether they are learning to cook for the first time or training to be a chef.”
The school offers classes for people looking to improve their home cooking, as well as professional training through its Chefs Academy.
Mr O’Nions said the school’s location near Dartmoor and the Devon coast provided access to excellent local ingredients, with sourcing from local food producers an important part of its approach.
He added that teaching students where ingredients come from was as important as developing their cooking skills.
Following the award, the school plans to continue developing its classes and updating its menus.
“We want every student to leave with useful skills, happy memories and the confidence to keep cooking,” he said.
4. Rafikis, Ashburton - Best Café
Vegetarian café Rafikis in Ashburton was named Best Café at the awards, a welcome recognition for the team after what it described as a difficult couple of years.
Chef and director Susie Moss said the team was pleased to have its efforts recognised, particularly its commitment to ethical business practices.
“We are vegetarian but don’t shout about it, we hope that meat eaters really enjoy our tasty abundant food and don’t miss the meat in the meal!” Ms Moss said.
She said the business regularly changes its menus to reflect seasonal ingredients, with monthly brunch menus and weekly specials.
Rafikis also aims to reduce food waste, recycle as much as possible and make compost for its growing project.
The business employs 25 people and tries to balance its sustainability ambitions with keeping its food affordable and welcoming to customers.
Looking ahead, Ms Moss hopes to introduce simple cookery classes for children, focusing on affordable ingredients that grow locally.
“We need to survive these tough financial times, and continue working hard to improve our offering whilst staying afloat,” she said.