BII Member Wins Good Food Guide Award

The Bluebell in Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire has today been named as the Midlands regional winner in the prestigious The Good Food Guide Readers’ Restaurant of the Year Awards.

A record 44,500 food-loving members of the public put forward their favourite restaurants, pubs and cafés from around the UK for the annual awards. The Good Food Guide award judges have sifted through all the nominations to pick the winners and celebrate some of the best dining experiences around the country.

To qualify for these esteemed awards, aimed at championing local neighbourhood eateries, restaurants needed to be independently run and offer regional or local produce where possible. The Bluebell fought off stiff competition from others in the region to win the award for the Midlands.

Duncan Taylor, owner of The Bluebell, and member of the BII, was delighted to be named as the winner, saying:  ‘We are thrilled to have won the Readers’ Restaurant of The Year for The Midlands, particularly so as this is voted for by the people that matter most to us – our diners. We’ve got a great team here at The Bluebell and use some superb local suppliers and they all thoroughly deserve this recognition - a big thank you to them and to all that voted for us.’

Pictured left to right are Duncan Taylor (Owner), Leigh Taylor (Owner), Simon Malin (Head Chef)

Elizabeth Carter, Consultant Editor of The Good Food Guide said:  ‘Duncan and Leigh Taylor’s ancient inn has a quirky but appealing modern outlook, a genuinely lovely line in hospitality, and tempting menus giving local ingredients top billing. But it’s the robust, rustic cooking that draws the loyal following.’

The Bluebell is one of ten regional winners from around the UK, one of whom will go on to be named as the overall The Good Food Guide Readers’ Restaurant of the Year.  The winner of this revered award will be announced on 20th June 2012. 

The Bluebell holds two AA rosettes and has won a number of accolades in recent years including Warwickshire Life Dining Pub of the Year; Coventry and Warwickshire Dining Pub of the Year (twice); Publican Newcomer of the Year.