Alliance Awards Regional Winners in the media

Every year, media interest in the annual Countryside Alliance Awards grows. With 18,000 nominations this year, multiple local and regional news articles have been published already. We have provided a round-up.

Local and regional media outlets are incredibly important and we are pleased to see such a large variety of publications taking interest in the winning businesses from their respective local areas. It has been an incredibly tough year for local businesses up and down the country and this coverage is important in highlighting the great work being done by so many.

Our press office continues to receive media enquiries and expect many more over the coming weeks. Please do check back regularly.

We would like to offer a special thank you to those local MPs who offered quotes of support and congratulations to winning businesses from their constituency.

Please note that we are only including web coverage. There have been several in-print only articles which have not been published online.

Yorkshire

Yorkshire Post: Yorkshire's best pubs, farm shops, butchers and a vineyard among winners in Countryside Alliance's 'rural Oscars' awards | Yorkshire Post

Hambleton Today: Community-owned village pub wins award in 'rural Oscars' - Hambleton Today

Retail Times: Farmison & Co's online orders rise 17% and it's a bit hit with over-50s – Retail Times

Local MPs said:

Rishi Sunak, MP for Richmond (Yorks) said: "I'm proud and delighted by this deserved recognition of the work done by the community in saving the Green Dragon and Tom and Becci Baker who do an excellent job of running the pub and the deli shop. This pub really is the hub for the local area and has been so throughout the last 15 difficult months."

Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams said: " I would like to congratulate the team at the Ainsty Farm Shop on winning this prestigious award. The Countryside Alliance awards recognise local businesses for the services they offer and the range of local produce that they sell. The Ainsty Farm shop has an excellent range of produce and the award is well deserved. "

Scarborough and Whitby MP, Robert Goodwill said: "Glaves Butchers reputation has spread far and wide in the almost 50 years they have been supplying our community. One of their pork pies is, in my view, the greatest delicacy known to man! Every other pork pie I have eaten comes as a disappointment after eating one of Brian's finest."

Julian Smith, the Member of Parliament for Skipton and Ripon said "Congratulations to the Dales Store on being named regional winner of the Countryside Alliance 2021 best village shop award. They source excellent local produce and provide a great friendly service. In 2014, I visited the store run by Andrea and Matthew to help re-open the newly integrated post office."

He added: "It is also brilliant news that Farmison & Co who are based in Ripon and source excellent high quality British produce from local, family run farms have been named regional winner of the Countryside Alliance 2021 best butcher award. Last year I visited and viewed the companies expansion plans and heard about the company's success creating jobs and growing consumer demand for local meat."

North West

Cumbria Crack: Awards joy for Cumbria's Crafty Baa and the Gather - cumbriacrack.com

Burnley Express: 'Rural Oscar' for Trawden Forest Library | Burnley Express

The Mail: The Crafty Baa in Windermere chosen as the North West's best pub | The Mail (nwemail.co.uk)

Local MPs said:

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: "I am delighted at this well-deserved recognition for the Trawden Forest and Community Shop. To be nominated and get through to being a finalist is testament to their incredible contribution supporting the community during such a difficult period."

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron said: "I want to say a massive congratulations to the Crafty Baa for winning Best Pub in the North West in the Countryside Alliance Awards. It truly is a fantastic local pub and it's an absolute testament to the hard work and creativity of the team there that they've deservedly won this award."

Copeland MP Trudy Harrison said: "A huge congratulations to the team at The Gather in Ennerdale Bridge for securing this award and regional title. The Countryside Alliance awards are a great way of recognising local businesses that go the extra mile for their community and it's clear from the rigorous judging process that The Gather has well and truly earned its title."

North East

Teesdale Mercury: Organic dale farm shop wins 'rural Oscar' - Country Life - Teesdale Mercury

Times and Star: The Gather at Ennerdale bag award from Countryside Alliance | Times and Star

Business Live: Best of North East's rural businesses crowned in Countryside awards - Business Live (business-live.co.uk)

North West Durham MP Richard Holden said: " I am very pleased to see the team at Knitsley Farm Shop crowned regional champions. It's testament to all of their hard work and to how well thought of they are in the local community. I look forward to seeing the business go from strength to strength."

Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison said: "With all the work they [CrossLanesFarm] do to promote the value of good, locally sourced food, it comes as no surprise they have won this award. They are a great attribute to our community and I hope to swing by the shop soon."

Presenting the regional award for Best Pub, Hexham MP GuyOpperman said: " The twicebrewedinn is an amazing pub on Hadrian's Wall, with its own brewery, which employs dozens of locals who provide great food, beer and hospitality on the Wall."

Berwick-upon- Tweed MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: "Village shops and post offices provide an essential service for rural communities across the country. I am very happy to see the team in Chatton win this regional award for all of their hard work."

Eastern Region

East Anglian Daily Times: Rural business owners' delight at countryside accolades | East Anglian Daily Times (eadt.co.uk)

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Barn Farm Drinks scoop prize at 'rural Oscars' | Harwich and Manningtree Standard

South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge said: "I am absolutely delighted that these businesses have been recognised in the 'Rural Oscars'. I would like to congratulate the teams at Hollow Trees and the Lavenham Butchers for all of their work supporting their local communities in this difficult year. Now more than ever, residents are appreciating the quality of local produce, and I am pleased to have such a wealth of excellent British food and farming businesses based in South Suffolk."

South East

Oxford Mail: Red Lion at Northmoor named best pub in south east | Oxford Mail

Oxford Mail: Ipsden's Blue Tin Farm Shop wins foodie award for third time | Oxford Mail

Witney Gazette: Red Lion at Northmoor named best pub in south east | Witney Gazette

Witney MP Robert Courts said: "I am absolutely delighted that the Red Lion in Northmoor has won this award. Ian and Lisa have done a truly incredible job, with the support of the local community, to transform this pub into the roaring success it is today. The pub is full of charm and character, with extraordinary food, as I know from my visits there. Very many congratulations to everyone at the pub for this well-deserved recognition."

South West

Crediton Courier: Church Street Stores announced as a regional winner in the Countryside Alliance Awards | Crediton Country Courier (creditoncourier.co.uk)

Wales

North Wales Pioneer: Gwinllan Conwy wins prestigious Countryside Alliance award | North Wales Pioneer

Nation Cymru: Telling the story of Welsh wine to the world': Vineyard toasts award success (nation.cymru)

Denbighshire Free Press: Gwinllan Conwy wins prestigious Countryside Alliance award | Denbighshire Free Press

Tivyside Advertiser: Cardigan butcher makes the cut in Countryside Alliance awards | Tivyside Advertiser

Western Telegraph: Cilgerran shop wins Welsh national village shop award | Western Telegraph