Some of Cumbria’s most loved food takeaways could be in line for a major award.
The organisers of the county’s independent food and drink awards have created a category to recognise the best takeaway venue or street cart vendor, including traditional fish and chip shops, pizza and Indian, Chinese or Thai food.
The much-anticipated Cumbria Food Awards, held in association with headline sponsor Caterite, are to return to Kendal College on Thursday March 20, hosted by chef and star of TV’s Saturday Kitchen, Matt Tebbutt.
The new Takeaway or Street Food Trader of the Year category will be for places with a tightly edited menu of the best quality takeaway food, which has local sourcing where possible. The winner will be worth a special journey and will have its own distinctive identity.
The free-to-enter awards are also to include three refreshed dining categories:
Casual Dining Venue of the Year
A neighbourhood, truly casual venue that appeals to customers who value reasonable prices, a comfortable location and reliable food. This category could include fish and chip restaurants, bistros and high street pizza or ethnic restaurants.
Contemporary Dining Venue of the Year
Classic modern restaurants and pubs with consistently good standards of food. These places will appeal to food lovers with an interest in local produce and contemporary dishes.
Acclaimed Restaurant of the Year
Michelin star level, standalone restaurants and hotel restaurants that appeal to the serious food enthusiast. These places are the best of Cumbria and will attract diners from outside the county.
Launched in 2022 to recognise and celebrate excellence in the county’s hospitality industry, Cumbria Food Awards are judged by an independent panel of experts.
They are organised by Michaela Robinson-Tate and Harry Atkinson.
Michaela said: “After three successful years, we are refreshing the 2025 awards with some new, exciting categories.
“The Takeaway or Street Food Trader of the Year award is an opportunity to recognise those places which many of us return to week after week and to reward the best of the best.
“Our new dining categories are designed for up to four finalists. With so many Michelin-starred and award-winning restaurants in Cumbria, these promise to be very competitive. We can’t wait to see which places feature among business entries and nominations.”
The annual awards, which recognise cafés, chefs, pubs, service and produce, attract more than 1,400 business entries and public nominations.
Students at Kendal College will cook and serve canapés and dinner for more than 150 finalists, sponsors and guests.
Cumbria Food Awards media partner is our sister title Cumbria Crack and Simon Rogan is the event’s patron.
Independent northern grocer Booths is again supporting the event by supplying the ingredients for canapés to be served at the event’s networking reception.
Sponsors are Academy by Simon Rogan; Cranstons; Enterprise Answers; Grapevine; Hawkshead Relish; Herdwick Cottages; Lamont Pridmore; More? The Artisan Bakery; Thomson Hayton Winkley and Westmorland Farmshop.
