(Top Left): Tim Andrews, Ifraz Ahmed (Co-Founder of BFDHA), Conrad Brunton, Ahmed Ahmed, & Paul Fulford. (Bottom Left): Marverin Cole, Anita Chumber (Co-Founder of BFDHA) and Anita Champaneri (Delicious PR)
The nominations are in and the judges have been deliberating with more care than Mary Berry making a millefeuille. Yes, the Birmingham Food, Drink & Hospitality Awards 2016, in association with Pepsi Max, is on the home stretch as the eager awaited shortlist is announced.
Sure to be one of the highlights of the city’s social calendar and billed as one of the main events of the year, the ceremony will certainly reward the most innovative and unique offerings of the city. Not only celebrating talent, but innovation, especially to those establishments flying the flag for the independent sector.
However, before that glorious night arrives, the bon viveurs of the city’s culinary scene have had to come together to cast a critical eye over more than 350 nominations.
The fantastic panel of judges includes esteemed restaurant critic Paul Fulford, Editor of Dine Birmingham Ahmed Ahmed, TV presenter and beer sommelier Marverine Cole, hospitality expert Conrad Brunton and Managing Director of Hollywood Monster & CEO of Birmingham City Ladies Football Club, Tim Andrews.
The panel, who have probably visited every establishment between them, have sifted through the phenomenal number of nominations that have poured in from all over Birmingham.
It was thirsty work appraising the good, the fab and the tasty from amongst the best of Birmingham’s vibrant food drink and hospitality scene.
Our fabulous judges have done their part, now the fates of our hopeful nominees lie in the hands of the brimming Birmingham public.
Is there a restaurant worthy of commendation? Or a chef that you think demonstrates flair and innovation? Well now’s your chance to celebrate the best of Birmingham by voting for your chosen individual or organisation for a sought-after Birmingham Food, Drink & Hospitality Award. To Vote please visit www.mfdhawards.co.uk
Conrad Brunton from hospitality recruitment firm Off To Work said, “I think we’ve got a really good mix of businesses, really championing the best of Birmingham in their cuisines and their skillsets. The awards are sure to be a tightly run and exciting contest.”
High-spirited Brummie Alison Hammond, presenter of ITV’s This Morning, will be taking the helm of the Awards night, which takes place at Edgbaston Stadium on Monday 6th of June.
As well as recognising the best of Birmingham’s food and hospitality scene, the awards will be raising money for charity partner LoveBrum, a charity that invest in a number of projects across the city.
Tickets are now on sale for The Birmingham Food, Drink & Hospitality Awards 2016, with Individual tickets priced at £70 and a table of 12 costing £750. For more information, please visit www.mfdhawards.co.uk
Birmingham Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards 2016 – SHORTLIST
Best Michelin Restaurant
- Adam’s Restaurant
- Carters of Moseley
- Purnell’s
- Simpsons Restaurant
- Turners Restaurant
Best Fine Dining Restaurant
- Cheal’s of Henley
- Lasan
- Opus
- Peel’s
- Waters
Best Gastro Pub
- Butlers Arms
- The Highfield
- The Plough
- Purecraft Bar
- The Church Inn
Best Curry Restaurant
- Asha’s
- Praza
- Pushkar
- Raja Monkey
- The Vine (West Bromwich)
- Tipu Sultan
Best Oriental Restaurant
- Chi Kitchen (Debenhams)
- Chung Ying (Cantonese)
- Modu
- Sabai Sabai
- Toppoki
Best Steak House
- Andersons Bar & Grill
- Fiesta Del Asado
- Meating
- MPW Steakhouse Bar & Grill
- Ryder Grill
Best Italian Restaurant
- Buonissimo
- Cielo
- Cucina Rustica
- Fumo
- San Carlo
Best Vegetarian Restaurant
- Bistro 1847
- Chennai Dosa
- Deepali’s
- Jyoti’s
- The Warehouse Café
Best Themed Restaurant
- Bodega Cantina
- Buffalo & Rye
- Rub Smokehouse & Bar
- The Stable
- Turtle Bay
Best Spanish Restaurant
- COMIDA
- Byzantium
- El Borracho De Oro
- Rico Libre
- Tapas Revolution
Best Chef
- Adam Stokes
- Aktar Islam
- Brad Carter
- Glyn Purnell
- Nathan Eades
Best Restaurant Manager
- Holly Jackson (Carter’s)
- Mark Ellison (Fleet Street Kitchen)
- Pawel Skrzypinski (Opus Restaurant)
- Sonal Clare (Purnells’)
- Tan Uddin (Nosh & Quaff)
Best Street Food/ Pop Up
- Baked in Brick
- Buddha Belly
- The Butcher’s Social
- Low N Slow
- Original Patty Men
Best Food Festival
- Birmingham Independent Food Fair
- Brum Yum Yum
- Colmore Food Festival
- Digbeth Dining Club
- Foodies Festival
Best Food & Drink Blogger
- Full to the Brum
- Independent Birmingham
- Meat & One Veg Blog
- Out in Brum
- Word in Veg Ways
Rising Food & Drinks Star
- Alex Claridge (Nomad)
- James Bowker (The Edgbaston Boutique Hotel)
- Leo Kattu (simpson’s)
- Nick Astley (Two Kats)
- Rob Wood (40 St Paul’s)
Best Cocktail Bar
- 40 St. Paul’s
- Fumo
- Ginger’s (Purnell’s Bistro)
- The Botanist
- The Edgbaston
Best Traditional Pub
- The Lord Clifden
- The Prince of Wales (Moseley)
- The Red Lion (Jewellery Quarter)
- The Victoria (John Bright St)
- The Wellington (Bennets Hill)
Best Hotel bar
- Bubble Lounge – Hotel Du Vin
- Mal Bar – Malmaison
- Alvar Bar – Hotel La Tour Bar
- The Gentleman & Scholar
- The Edgbaston
Best Drinks Merchant
- Connolly’s
- Cotteridge Wines
- Loki Wines
- The Drinks Emporium
- The Hard to Find Whiskey Co.
Best Afternoon Tea
- Hampton Manor
- Hotel Du Vin
- Hyatt Regency
- MPW Steakhouse Bar & Grill
- The Edgbaston
Best Independent Coffee Shop
- Faculty Coffee
- Quarter Horse Coffee
- Six Eight Kafe
- Urban Coffee Company
- Yorks Bakery Cafe
Best Sommelier
- Bradley Pace (Purnell’s)
- Corin Ireland (Simpsons)
- Jade Farrel (MPW)
- Nico Anti – (Hotel Du Vin)
- Shaun Dunlop (Adam’s)
Best Casino
- Genting Hotel (Resorts World)
- Genting (Star City)
- Grosvenor (Broad St.)
- Broadway Casino
- Genting (Hagley Road)
Best Hotel
- Genting Hotel (Resorts World)
- Hampton Manor
- Hotel Du Vin
- Hotel LaTour
- Hyatt Regency
- The Edgbaston Boutique Hotel
Best General Manager
- Craig Newman (Hampton Manor)
- Mario Flanagan (Hyatt)
- Paul Upton (Bowlplex)
- Simon Gillian (Island Bar)
- Tony Elvin (Hotel Du Vin)
Best Venue
- Barclaycard Arena
- Edgbaston Stadium
- ICC
- Resorts World
- Town Hall
Best Spa
- At One Day Spa
- The Belfry
- Le Petit Spa
- Santai Medispa
- Spa Du Vin
