THE cream of Worcestershire’s tourist firms are set to be honoured in the county’s new industry excellence awards.

Your Worcester News readers have until the middle of April to nominate their choices for those businesses offering a real taste of the county, recognising everything from the best bed and breakfast to the champions of local produce.

Voting in the first Worcestershire Welcome Awards is easy – vote online at visitworcestershire.org or by completing the downloadable form on the website.

The voting form will also be printed regularly in your Worcester News. he deadline for voting is Monday, April 20.

There are four main award categories: Worcestershire Awareness: Aimed at establishments interested in promoting the region, be it restaurant recommendations or seasonal celebrations such as the Asparagus Run.

Best Worcestershire Breakfast: The best breakfast from regional produce.

Eat & Drink Worcestershire: Use of seasonal and regional produce together with provenance of products. This extends to all staff and not just proprietors, including farm shops and retail outlets.

Worcestershire Nights: Awarding the establishment which gives welcoming ambience, value for money and a good night’s sleep.

Judy Gardner is a well-known name among Worcestershire producers as the founder of Garners Foods, best-known for its pickles. She opened the Eckington Manor Cookery School on her 260-acre farm near Pershore.

The school, teaching everything from basic cooking to bread-making, shot to fame with an appearance on television’s The Apprentice.

Mrs Gardner bought the farm five years ago but launched the cookery school to make the farm profitable.

She said: “The land was in the flood plain so it wouldn’t have been commercially viable, but in a eureka moment I decided to launch the school.

“I really believe in supporting the local economy and the money goes back into the local area, not outside it.”

All the meat cooked by students is from the farm’s herds of Highland and Aberdeen Angus cattle, sheep and pigs.

A new vegetable and herb garden also means many ingredients can be traced to the farm’s backyard.

Mrs Gardner is a firm believer in traceability of food and the sustainability of Britain as a farming nation.

She said: “As an island we need to be able to produce our own food.

“Farm it properly or it doesn’t work.”

  • Nominating in the Worcestershire Welcome Awards is easy, you can register your vote at visitworcestershire.org or by completing the downloadable form here which will also be printed regularly in your Worcester News. Voting closes on Monday, April 20.