Winners of the YEP's Oliver food and drink awards revealed
Lionel Strub, the owner of the historic Clarendon country pub with rooms at Skipton, was handed the Outstanding Contribution award at last night's glittering event which paid tribute to the best that Leeds and the wider region has to offer from bars to chefs, to restaurants and breweries.
Mr Strub, who took over at The Clarendon in 2015, was presented with the award by Steph Moon, a fellow renowned chef and one of the Oliver Award judges.
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Hide AdShe said he was "more a Yorkshireman than many might know" and that "his knowledge of local food and drink is impressive".
One of the newest names on the Leeds front, El Gato Negro, was the 'Overall Restaurant of the Year' as well as winning 'Best World' and the other most coveted award of the night went to Josh Whitehead. He was named Best Chef for 2020 due to his work at the Harewood Food and Drink project. Highly commended went to Jono Hawthorne, who is at the helm at Vice and Virtue.
The ceremony, the 12th in the history of the awards, was held at the Centenary Pavilion at Elland Road.
After a nomination period, 14 out of the 17 categories had been previously whittled down to a shortlist, with the judges (which also included beer writer, Simon Jenkins and food critic, Amanda Wragg) coming up with the restaurant of the year and outstanding contribution winner.
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Hide AdThe food loving public of Leeds also had their say with the People's Choice Award, which returned for a second year. After hundreds of nominations being made, before being put to a text vote, Grumpy's pizza restaurant in Farsley was announced as the winner.
Laura Collins, the editor of the Yorkshire Evening Post, said: "Within this room there are some of the most talented, creative and ambitious people from brewers to bar staff and fine dining chefs." But, she added, they all had one thing in common and that was "passion and dedication" to the industry.
The full list of winners and highly commended are:
Best Brunch
Winner - Nordish
Highly Commended - Alexander's
Best Family Friendly
Winner - Fazenda
Highly Commended - Salute
Best Use of Local Produce
Winner - Blacker Hall Farm
Highly Commended - Clarendon Country Pub with rooms
Best World
Winner - El Gato Negro
Highly Commended - Devour
Best Gastropub
Winner - The Owl, Kirkgate Market
Highly Commended - The Queen O T'owd Thatch
Best Speciality
Winner - Clam and Cork
Highly Commended - Northern Bloc
Best for Sustainability
Winner - Swinton Park
Highly Commended - Leeds Cookery School
Best Newcomer
Winner - Grantley Hall
Highly Commended - El Gato Negro
Best Customer Service
Winner - Rudding Park
Highly Commended - Sukhothai (Chapel Allerton)
Chef of the Year
Winner - Josh Whitehead (Harewood Food and Drink Project)
Highly Commended - Jono Hawthorne (Vice and Virtue)
Best Fine Dining
Winner - Host
Highly Commended - Grand Cru
Best Bar
Winner - Head of Steam (Park Row)
Highly Commended - Whitelocks
Best Cafe/Cafe Deli
Winner - Wild Plum
Highly Commended - Haley and Clifford
Best Brewery
Winner - Northern Monk
Highly Commended - North Brewing Co
People's Choice
Grumpy's Bar and Wood-Fired Pizza
Overall Restaurant of the Year
El Gato Negro
Outstanding Contribution
Lionel Strub
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