Sponsors

Barretts of Canterbury – Sponsor of Kent Coffee Shop or Tea Room of the Year

Barretts is one of the few family businesses that have been trading in Canterbury since the turn of the last century, providing a unique, personal and first-class customer service across Kent. They pride themselves on customer service, and with over 100 years of experience, know the level of service you expect to receive from a trusted family retailer.
Barretts are passionate about making the car buying process an enjoyable experience with a team of professional staff that you can trust and rely on to guide you through seamlessly. The Barretts service doesn’t stop when you leave the showroom, they are there to help you through your entire journey.
Consequently, Barretts have built strong, long-lasting relationships with their customers and have also forged new relationships with like-minded businesses and individuals within the communities they work.
With the car industry about to change like it has never seen before, and with Jaguar Land Rover also doing something very special, it’s an exciting time to be part of the Barretts Jaguar Land Rover journey.

barrettskent.co.uk

Biddenden Vineyards

Kent’s original vineyard, Biddenden was established by the Barnes family in 1969, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019.
Eleven varieties of grapes are grown across 23 acres, producing award-winning still and sparkling English wines. The famous Biddenden Cider is also produced on site along with farm-pressed Kentish apple & pear juices.
Visitors are welcome at the vineyard year-round and the vineyard shop offers tastings of Biddenden’s wines, ciders & juices as well as stocking a wide selection of locally produced food & drink. Open tours run Saturdays April-October and private tours are available by prior arrangement.
biddendenvineyards.com

BTF Partnership – Sponsor of GARDEN OF ENGLAND CHAMPION – TOP FRUIT

BTF Partnership are land and property agents, with offices across Kent & Sussex and we are delighted once again to be supporting the Taste of Kent Award for Top Fruit. Top fruit growing is a firm part of Kent’s food and farming history. Whilst there is the understandable effort to innovate to increase crop yields which has driven farming change for the sector, capturing great taste is still the key to producing world class fruit from Kent. Kent apples and pears are enjoyed up and down the country and we are proud to be working with many of the counties leading growers. We look forward to seeing and tasting the entries in this category. btfpartnership.co.uk

Eurostar – Sponsor of Kent Beer of the Year

Eurostar is passionate about its community & environment programme and we involved in various initiatives in Kent. We have ten bee hives producing ‘Eurostar Honey’ located near HS1 at Mersham, near Ashford. Our honey is served in some of our desserts on-board as well as being used in our own designer gin “Toujours 21”.
We are a supporter of the Taste of Kent Awards and a proud sponsor of the ‘Kent Beer of the Year’ category. Other schemes Eurostar supports include the Kent Walk to School programme and various educational initiatives with schools and colleges. Visit www.eurostar.com to find out more.

A C Goatham – Sponsor of Kent Tastiest Juice of the Year

A C Goatham & Son are delighted to sponsor the Kent’s Tastiest Juice of the year award at the Taste of Kent Awards. As growers of 14 varieties of apples, including the delicious new Zari variety and 3 varieties of pears, we know what it takes to grow delicious tasting fruit. It takes a lot of skill to make great tasting juice, but producers are lucky with so much fantastically grown Kent produce to choose from. We look forward to meeting the producers of Kent’s best juices throughout the year and wish them every success. acgoatham.com

Gullands Solicitors – Sponsor of Kent Food Business of the Year

Gullands Solicitors is a leading law firm based in Maidstone and Gravesend with a legal tradition spanning more than a century. We offer city expertise with provincial fee structures, so you get the best legal services for an affordable price.

gullands.com

HSBC – Sponsor of Kent Food Product of the Year

We take great pride in sponsoring this very prestigious award. Supporting the Garden of England’s ambitious local businesses, and the contribution they make to the Kent economy, is at the heart of HSBC’s mission to help businesses thrive, economies prosper and enable people to realise their ambitions. The incredible range and quality of Kent’s finest food & drink producers show innovation & passion that is key to successful businesses.
We are delighted to support the awards and congratulate & thank everyone involved.
For nearly 150 years we have been where the growth is, connecting customers to opportunities. Today, HSBC Commercial Banking serves businesses ranging from small enterprises to large multinationals in almost 60 developed and faster-growing markets around the world. Whether it is working capital, trade finance or payments and cash management solutions, we provide the tools and expertise that businesses need to thrive. With a network covering three quarters of global commerce, we make HSBC the world’s leading international trade and business bank.

www.hsbc.co.uk

insight6 – Sponsor of Excellence Award for Customer Service

We measure, transform and improve the customer experience for any business. We partner over 1,000 businesses providing powerful insights that inspire and improve performance. insight6 offers the “end-to-end” customer experience solution and all of our services are tailored to improve your bottom line. insight6.com

Kent County Agricultural Society  – Sponsor of GARDEN OF ENGLAND CHAMPION – CHERRY & SOFT FRUIT

The Kent County Agricultural Society, the charity behind the Kent County Show is proud to sponsor the Cherry and Soft Fruit Award at the Taste of Kent Awards. One of the unique highlights of the largest three day Show in Kent; the National Cherry and Soft Fruit Show showcases the very best of Kentish produce and is where this award will be judged. By purchasing a ticket to the Show, our visitors support a range of rural based charities and businesses including Kent Young Farmers Clubs, Kent Poultry Club and the Kent Federation of Horticultural Societies. One of the aims of the Show is to educate the general public and highlight the industry through the showing of livestock and produce. kentshowground.co.uk

NFU Mutual Ashford and Tenterden – Sponsor of Kent Wine of the Year

NFU Mutual Ashford and Tenterden is a voice in the South East of a leading insurer known for its expertise in insuring the risks of every part of the food chain and every type of rural business.
We’re looking forward to meeting some of Kent’s most exciting food innovators and delighted to be able to support an event that recognises and encourages their marvellous achievements.

nfumutual.co.uk/Ashford

Opies – Sponsor of Kent Local Food Retailer of the Year

Opies are delighted to be sponsoring the Kent Local Food of the Year category in this years’s Taste of Kent Awards. Many more retailers are realising the benefit of stocking local food and this presents a fantastic opportunity for Kent as the Garden of England that offers some of the finest produce. Opies have always been strong supporters of local businesses and Kent food producers who use local ingredients to produce some great quality foods. b-opie.com

Shepherd Neame – Sponsor of the KENT FOOD PRODUCT Classes

Shepherd Neame operates 350 pubs across London and the South East and brews traditional Kentish ales and international lagers under licence.
Established in 1698, Britain’s oldest brewer is an independent family business, with chief executive Jonathan Neame the fifth generation of his family at the helm.
Based at Faversham, in the heart of Kent’s hop country, Shepherd Neame combines centuries of brewing expertise with modern, sustainable production methods.
In the last five years Shepherd Neame has won more than thirty brewing awards, plus Best Pub Food Offer and Best Managed Pub Operator at The Publican Awards.
The brewery’s award-winning brands include Spitfire Premium Kentish Ale, Bishops Finger Strong Ale and Asahi. shepherdneame.co.uk

South East Farmer – Sponsor of Kent Farm Diversification Award

As the regions main farming title, South East Farmer is proud to be this years Media Sponsor for the Taste Of Kent Awards. With 45,000 readers in the seven counties of the south east we are well placed to preview and publish the results to farmers, growers and allied trades who receive our magazine in the post every month.

If you are a farmer or grower in the region and not currently receiving our title then please email readers@southeastfarmer.net. It is also free to view on our website. southeastfarmer.net

Thomson, Snell and Passmore – Sponsor of Kent Restaurant of the Year

Thomson Snell & Passmore is a law firm with a long history of advising Kent clients in the food and drink sector. Our experience spans the whole sector from advising seed developers to retail and restaurants and everything in between. We have restaurant clients all over the south east as well as in London. We are proud to support the Kent Restaurant of the Year category and wish all the nominees every success. ts-p.co.uk

The University of Kent – Sponsor of Kent Dining Pub of the Year

The University of Kent is proud to be making a difference in our community. We generate around £0.7billion for the South-East and contribute over 100,000 volunteering hours per year. As the largest conference venue in the South East, the University prides itself on delivering the very best Kentish experience to staff, students and visitors from all over the world. Having won the Best Group Accommodation Award for the 8th year running, our team are passionate about showcasing the best the region has to offer in food, drink and hospitality. Supporting local businesses is important to us; we work in partnership with local producers to ensure that our customers benefit from some of Kent’s finest produce. kent.ac.uk

Wilkins Kennedy LLP – Sponsor of KENT CIDER OR PERRY of the Year

The practice of Wilkins Kennedy has been associated with the farming fraternity in Kent for over 100 years. The association encompasses all land aspects from arable and animal husbandry to fruit, as well as dealing with merchants and those associated with the countryside. We are therefore delighted to be able to sponsor the Kent Cider and Perry category, a programme associated with a sector that has a ferocious appetite to produce with innovation, passion and commitment. Furthermore, from the partnership’s aspect, being given the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to a sector which in itself rewards the staff and partners is a real privilege. We would like to wish every success to all participants. wilkinskennedy.com

High Weald AONB – Joint Sponsors of Kent Countryside Award

The High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a medieval landscape covering parts of Kent and Surrey and much of Sussex. Its special features include rolling hills, scattered farmsteads, ancient woodlands, small irregular-shaped fields, open heaths and ancient routeways. The High Weald Partnership is a strategic, specialist team that furthers understanding of the High Weald, advises on its management and helps people look after and safeguard the unique landscape. highweald.org

The Kent Downs AONB – Joint Sponsors of Kent Countryside Award

The Kent Downs AONB is a nationally protected landscape; it covers about a quarter of Kent including the North Downs and areas of the Greensand Ridge and Romney Marsh. The aim of this Award is to recognise exemplary achievements where a food producer or farmer makes a real contribution to the conservation and enhancement of Kent’s fine landscape. kentdowns.org.uk

BTF Partnership & Lupofresh – Joint Sponsors of Kent Hop Grower of the Year

BTF Partnership are delighted to be sponsoring the brand-new Taste of Kent Awards Hop Grower of the year. Hop growing is enjoying a renaissance here in Kent, thanks to rise of micro-breweries and craft beers. Growers here in Kent produce excellent quality hops which are much sought after by brewers across the world. We are keen to encourage this sector of farming to flourish once again.

www.btfpartnership.co.uk    www.britishhops.org.uk/sellers/lupofresh-ltd

Kent Event Centre

kenteventcentre.co.uk