STORY- FOOD & DRINK NEWS
FOOD + DRINK
TASTE OF KENT AWARDS EXTENDS ENTRIES AND PUBLIC VOTING
The Taste of Kent Awards has extended both entries and public voting until 8 July, giving more businesses and voters the opportunity to take part in the awards’ 20th anniversary year.
BALFOUR WINERY WINS AT IWC AWARDS 2026
Widely recognised as the South East’ s longestrunning food and drink awards programme, the Taste of Kent Awards celebrate the people, places and products that make Kent one of the UK’ s leading food and drink destinations.
Balfour Winery has scooped 24 accolades, including four golds and 10 silvers, at the 2026 International Wine Challenge. The Kent-based winery received one of the highest numbers of gold medials overall for an individual producer.
“ When we founded Balfour in 2002, our business plan was: if we can’ t sell it, we’ ll drink it,” said Leslie-Balfour Lynn.“ This approach of being personally involved in each wine and not releasing it until the whole family loved it, combined with our two brilliant winemakers- father and son team, Owen and Fergus Elias- has led to the success we have today. I am very proud of this achievement for both our wines and our whole team who make this success possible.”
The judges were particularly struck by the winery’ s approach to accessibility. A free bus service for the local station addresses both rural logistics and responsible drinking, while visitors are welcome to explore the estate freely without charge- an openness described as genuinely generous.
The top scoring wines in 2026 were Balfour Blanc de Blancs 2018, Balfour Cinque Ports 2019, Balfour Blanc de Noirs 2018 and Balfour Rosé de Meunier 2023, all of which received gold accolades.
There are four categories available for public voting: Kent Dining Experience of the Year, Kent Casual Food & Drink Experience of the Year, Kent Food & Drink Market of the Year and Kent Independent Retailer of the Year. Voting is completely free, with the businesses receiving the highest number of votes progressing to a further round of judging.
Organised by Produced in Kent, the awards champion quality, innovation and sustainability among growers, producers, manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and hospitality venues.
The winners will be announced at the Taste of Kent Awards ceremony on 8 October 2026 at the Glassbox Theatre, Gillingham.
SUMMER LATE LUNCHES LAUNCHED AT HISTORIC QUEX GARDENS
This summer, the Powell-Cotton Trust has partnered with Green Michelin-starred restaurant Angela’ s of Margate to launch a series of seasonal late lunches at Quex Gardens. |
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Taking place alongside the Victorian walled kitchen garden, the monthly gatherings will see chefs from the acclaimed restaurant serving seasonal vegetable-based dishes, prepared in the outdoor kitchen using produce grown within Quex Gardens.
Held on the last Sundays of July, August and September, the lunches will begin with a guided walk through the gardens led by head gardener Sue Harris and Angela’ s chef Rob Cooper, giving guests an insight into the current harvest and how it has shaped the day’ s menu. Diners will then gather on the glasshouse terrace for a three-course meal celebrating the produce grown around them.
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shorter than literally picking the produce from the site and cooking it straightaway. Not only are we getting the produce at its best, we’ re cooking it as quickly as we can and presenting it as simply as we can. For me, that’ s one of the most fundamental ways I believe in cooking.” |
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L-R: JILL SARGENT( PRODUCED IN KENT), LAUREN EDWARDS MP AND CAROL FORD( PRODUCED IN KENT) |
© Steptsont Imaging |
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Named Best Produce Garden at the Kent Life Garden Awards 2025, the kitchen garden provides a wide variety of seasonal produce as well as ornamental plants; it’ s a calm and welcoming space where nature, creativity and community come together.
“ This is a truly inspiring environment to be in,” said Rob Cooper.“ When we talk about reducing food miles in the restaurant, you can’ t get any
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© Angie McFarlane |
L-R: JULIAN BARNES( BIDDENDEN VINEYARD), SAMANTHA READY, JILL SARGENT, JO GURR( PRODUCED IN KENT), ADAM READY |
© Steptsont Imaging |
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