Welsh businesses crowned at Countryside Alliance Awards Welsh reception

On Tuesday night (27 February) rural businesses from across Wales descended on the Senedd to be celebrated for the role they play in our rural communities, keeping them together and their continuing promotion and defence of Welsh produce, skills and rural life.

Through the Countryside Alliance Awards, we are proud to be honouring a group of people who are passionate about their countryside and about providing quality goods, services and employment to rural communities and beyond. The businesses that attended on the night are top of their game and we applaud them all.

Rural communities in Wales are facing some incredibly tough times and the Rural Oscars awarded on Tuesday night go to show the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit which underpin our rural businesses.

Rachel Evans, Director of the Countryside Alliance Wales, said:

"This evening was about celebrating our rural communities and the role that these businesses play in keeping them together – their continued promotion of Welsh produce, skills, and rural life deserve all the credit they can get. The Countryside Alliance is proud to be honouring a group of people who are passionate about our countryside and about providing quality goods, services, and employment to rural communities and beyond.”

The Countryside Alliance Awards is a family and the businesses which we celebrate must be valued for their contribution not only to rural Wales, but to the whole of Wales. We have great admiration for what they do. They have brought us happiness, occasionally tears, but importantly a terrific sense of pride in being able to honour them. Meet our Welsh winners…

The winners of the 2024 Welsh Countryside Alliance Awards were as follows:

• Pub: Tafarn y Fic, Gwynedd
• Village Shop: Llanymynech Village Shop, Powys
• Butcher: Izzy’s Butchers, Powys
• Local Food and Drink: Cwm Farm Charcuterie, Glamorgan
• Rural Enterprise: Bargoed Farm, Ceredigion

The runners-up in each category were as follows:

• Pub: Llew Gwyn, Clwyd
• Village Shop: R H Bunner and Son Ltd, Powys
• Butcher: Jones A’i Fab, Clwyd
• Local Food and Drink: Velvrey Vineyard, Pembrokeshire
• Rural Enterprise: Cwm Fedw Country Sports, Rhondda Cynnon Taf

The following businesses received high commendations in each category:

• Pub: Dolau Inn, Powys
• Village Shop: Boughrood Stores, Powys and Mantles Village Shop, Montgomeryshire
• Butcher: Farmers Pantry, Glamorgan
• Local Food and Drink: Carn Edward, Pembrokeshire
• Rural Enterprise: Llanbenwch caravan park, Denbighshire and The Welsh Wool Shed, Gwynedd