About

About us

Take a look at the places, the people and the food.

About Us

Every great meal begins with a story – and ours began with a simple mission: to shine a spotlight on the unsung culinary heroes of the United Kingdom.

Local, independent food businesses are the soul of our communities. They’re the places you return to, the ones that remember your order, and the ones that turn a meal into a lasting memory. Our awards honour those establishments – not through sponsorships or pay-to-play schemes, but through customer opinion.

Every Good Food Award is free to enter and built on real dining experiences. There are no gala dinners, no acceptance fees, and no paywalls hiding the results. Just honest recognition, freely given.

We gather customer feedback/online reviews/nominations/votes to ensure our winners reflect genuine dining experiences. We also run multiple checks – including official Food Hygiene data – so you don’t have to.

Thanks to our Good Food Standards Charter, you can feel confident that your favourite venues keep delivering the quality, care and cleanliness you first fell in love with. The win is earned. Staying great is expected.

If a dish makes you smile and their service makes you stay, we want to hear about it.

Welcome to the Good Food Awards – powered by public praise.

Good Food Awards Blue Ribbon
Manchester Evening News Coronation Street’s Steve McDonald celebrates a Good Food Award win. The actor, known for playing Steve McDonald in the ITV soap, was seen beaming alongside his wife Emma Gleave. Winners in the Press Over 1,143 mentions across 114 publications and 356 articles. That’s the reach of Good Food Award winners across the past two seasons alone. Guide Wine, food & finding the perfect match Good food and good wine have a lot in common: both should make you want another bite, another sip and perhaps stay at the table a little longer.

Recognition that Resonates

It starts with a standout experience – great food, warm service, and real value. That’s what earns a venue our coveted Blue Ribbon – a trusted mark† that tells customers: this place gets it right. And when that excellence continues year after year, our revered Gold Seal follows. Awarded after three years or more of consistent quality, it’s not just an award – it’s a reputation.

With over 598,000 food premises across the UK, competition is fierce. But our winners rise above – earning not just our seal of approval, but the attention of the press. Winners have earned over 1,143 mentions across 114 publications and 356 articles† in just the past two seasons alone.

It’s more than a badge of honor – it’s a bridge to new audiences.

135,090UK Restaurants & Cafes Source correct at 01.08.24
10,500UK Fish & Chip Shops Source NFFF
598,096UK Food Premises Sources correct at 01.08.24
63,415UK Takeaways Source correct at 01.08.24
52,041UK Public Houses Source correct at 01.08.24

Ready to Join the Story?

If your menu is packed with passion and your kitchen serves up joy, we invite you to apply for the prestigious Good Food Award. And if you’re a loyal customer, help us discover the next great eatery by casting your vote. Explore our site, meet our winners, and find your next culinary adventure.

Because at the Good Food Awards, we don’t just celebrate food – we celebrate the people who make food unforgettable.

the Blue Ribbon for Delicious Dishes™

Apply for an Award Support Your Favourite

Our Categories, Your Favourites

From fine dining to fish and chips, every winner is the best at what they do. Different plates, same gold standard. Whatever you’re craving, it’s right here.

Fine Dining & Restaurants

Combining style with creativity, these venues offer a dining experience where presentation and flavour come together.

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Gastro-Pubs, Inns, Taverns & Public Houses

Comforting meals, local ales and a thoughtful twist on traditional fare.

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Cafés, Bistros, Coffee Houses & Tea Rooms

From artisan brews to homemade cakes, these are the rooms people linger in.

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Fish and Chip Takeaways / Restaurants

Crispy, golden and wrapped in tradition. The British classic, done properly.

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Takeaways, Food to Go & Home Delivery

From a curry on a rainy night to a pizza shared with friends, these kitchens bring the meal to your door.

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Mobile & Pop-Up Catering

Street food vans and festival kitchens, serving bold flavours wherever they stop.

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† “Trusted Mark” refers to Good Food Awards media coverage in 2024/25 and 2023/24. Winners received 1,143 press mentions across 114 publications and 356 articles. “Publications” means distinct domains; “articles” means distinct articles; “mentions” means each reference to a winner, including multiple references within one article. View Winners in the Press.