WITH the dark winter nights and post-Christmas bills to pay, the first couple of months of a New Year can be a tough time for eateries looking to tempt diners off their comfy sofas to spend a few pennies!
Yet The Plough @ Shutlanger is happily bucking that trend, having just enjoyed the best start to a year they’ve ever had, and they’re putting that success down to victory in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2016/17!
The venue, at Shutlanger near Towcester, not only took the prestigious title of Booker Food Pub of the Year but also saw one of its culinary team, 24-year-old Marcus Franklin, named runner-up in the Booker Young Chef of the Year category, both awards generously sponsored by Booker Wholesale, the UK’s leading food and drink wholesaler.
Little wonder then that the pub’s co-owners, Jim Kay and Jessica King, believe it’s no coincidence that they’ve spent the first part of 2017 rushed off their feet.
“Having been runners-up in 2015, we had already seen something of the impact that the increase in publicity could bring, which is why we were so keen to enter again, but we could never have imagined it would see us flooded with bookings as we have been throughout January and February,” said Jessica.
“We’re gutted that, as winners, we’re not allowed to enter for the same award this year, but we’ll definitely be looking at engaging in some of the other categories and would certainly urge other venues to get involved and benefit from the boost to business that we’re currently relishing,” added Jim.
The Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2017/18 will be launched on Thursday 30 March with categories again designed to recognise the very best of the county’s culinary sector, including those for pubs, restaurants, chefs, cafes and producers.
Downloadable entry forms for all of the free-to-enter categories will be available after the launch at the Awards’ website – www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk – while you can also follow the competition on twitter at @foodawardsHQ or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/foodawards
If you are an organisation, business or individual interested in taking part in, or sponsoring the competition, contact Rachel at The Mallows Company on 01933 664437 or email