The Tastiest Shortlist in Town: Northamptonshire’s Food & Drink Finalists Revealed

Image: Mooche Wala, Denton (Finalist in the World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year category)

Let’s be honest – we all love a good excuse to eat out. And if you’ve been looking for one, consider this your official invitation.

The Weetabix Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards have just dropped their shortlist for this year’s best-in-class dining categories, and wow… it’s a deliciously impressive line-up.

From cosy village pubs to world-flavour hotspots, from heart-warming community cafés to top-tier restaurants dishing up unforgettable experiences – this year’s finalists prove once again that Northamptonshire is cooking with gas (and soul, and spice, and a whole lot of local pride).

So, who made the cut?

After months of visits, taste tests, and top-secret mystery shopping (we’re picturing clipboard-wielding judges pretending to be fussy eaters), the judges have served up their picks across four key categories: Gastro Pub of the Year, Community Café of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, and World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year.

And let’s just say – if you weren’t hungry before, you will be now.

Best Gastro Pubs, As Picked by Booker

Northamptonshire’s pub game is strong – and this year’s Booker Gastro Pub of the Year finalists are pouring pints andplating up proper foodie flair:

• The Four Pears, Little Houghton

• The Kings Arms, Polebrook

• The Kings Head, Spratton

• The Rose & Crown, Yardley Hastings

• The Sheaf Inn, West Haddon

• The Tollemache Arms, Harrington

Get ready for crispy pork belly, triple-cooked chips, and Sunday roasts that could move you to tears.

Community Cafés Bringing More Than Coffee

These cafés are the heart of their communities, and their nominations for Community Café of the Year (backed by West Northamptonshire Council Public Health) prove that kindness, creativity and a good cuppa go a long way:

• Bob’s Café, Corby

• Bugbrooke Community Café CIC

• Café Oak (Youth Works), Geddington

• Saints Coffee, Northampton

• The Hut Café, Kettering

• Whites Kitchen, Earls Barton

Whether they’re tackling loneliness, training young people, or just baking the best brownies in town, these spots are the real MVPs.

Restaurant Royalty: The County’s Culinary Powerhouses

If you’ve been saving up for a special meal out, these are the places to book. The Restaurant of the Year finalists, sponsored by WhitCo, are all about style, service, and seriously good food:

• Restaurant Ember, Wellingborough

• Nuovo, Northampton

• The Gallery at Escapade, Silverstone

• The Palmichael, Burton Latimer

• Staci’s Italian Restaurant, Rothwell

From pasta handmade with love to tasting menus that read like poetry, each one is giving “treat yourself” energy.

Around the World (Without Leaving Northants)

Craving curry? Fancy a feast of Turkish delights? This year’s World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year finalists (supported by British Pepper and Spice) are flying the flag for flavour:

• Bodrum Turkish Cuisine, Burton Latimer

• Mooche Wala, Denton

• Saffron Fine Dining, Brackley

• Taste of India, Rothwell

• The Raj, Kettering

• Truva Lounge Cocktail Bar, Towcester

Bring your appetite – and possibly stretchy trousers.

More Than Just Awards – A Celebration of Community

“This is about more than great meals,” says Awards Director Rachel Mallows MBE. “It’s about honouring the people who pour passion into every plate, the places that bring communities together, and the incredible impact food and drink has on our local economy.”

It’s not just a pat on the back – being a finalist helps businesses stand out, attract new customers, and inspire the next generation of local talent.

(Also, it gives us an excuse to eat our way around the county. Just saying.)

Mark Your Diaries 

Winners will be crowned at a glittering celebration on 16 October 2025 at The Royal & Derngate Theatre. Finalists will receive Gold, Silver or Bronze awards – but honestly, they all deserve a standing ovation.

And if you want to get involved, support your favourites, or just get hungry for more local goodness, follow the journey over on:

• Facebook: @foodawards

• Instagram/X: @foodawardsHQ

• LinkedIn: @weetabixnfadawards

• Website: northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk

Your Turn – Go Taste Northamptonshire

So now you know the names – why not book a table, grab a fork, and see what all the fuss is about?

Whether you’re a pub lover, café regular, fine-dining explorer or spice-chaser, there’s a finalist waiting to impress you.

Because in Northamptonshire? Good food isn’t just on the menu. It’s the main event.