The Feathers Inn in Stocksfield won over the judges with its passion for locally sourced and foraged ingredients, its perfectly cooked roast meats and wide selection of sides alongside its dedication to catering for different dietary requirements.
The expert judging panel included Unilever Food Solutions executive chef Alex Hall, top chef Mark Sargeant and was led by food critic Charles Campion, who said: “The roast dinner is a signature dish for the whole nation, this is Britain at its very best.
“At the Feathers, they are care about their roast dinners and it shows. Yorkshire puddings like savoury clouds, dark rich gravy, perfectly cooked meat from local farms and shrapnel roasties. We all deserve a local like the Feathers and we all deserve a roast dinner this good.”
Competition prize
As well as the title of Best British Roast Dinner 2017, the pub has also won the grand prize of £10,000 of PR to help make it famous for its roast.
Owner and head chef Rhian Cradock said: “We’re delighted to have won Best British Roast Dinner 2017. It is a monumental achievement and a real crowning jewel in the year the Feathers celebrates its 10th anniversary.
“Our roast is a real team effort and we are enormously proud of our talented team for winning this award, their contribution has been invaluable.”
Hall said: “Competition this year has been tougher than ever, so congratulations to all our finalists and our national winner, the Feathers Inn.
“Lifting a Best British Roast Dinner title has done fantastic things for pubs in previous years and I am sure this year will be no different.”
Runners-up
Each of the finalists (below) will also receive £2,500 of PR to help give their roast the fame it deserves:
- The Limping Fox in Thames Ditton, Surrey (south England)
- The Boat Inn, Birdingbury, Warwickshire (Midlands)
- Kyloe Restaurant & Grill in Edinburgh (Scotland)
- Hare & Hounds in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan (Wales)
Now in its sixth year, the Best British Roast Dinner competition is part of British Roast Dinner Week (24 September to 1 October 2017).
The campaign – sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions – aims to inspire pubs to serve a roast every day of the week.