TWO ‘rural Oscars’ could be headed to a Blackdown Hills village in the spring after the shortlist was announced for this year’s Countryside Alliance Awards.
The York Inn, Churchinford, and Churchinford Community Shop have both been shortlisted for regional awards in the pub and village shop/Post Office categories, respectively.
York Inn landlord Dan Prettejohn said he was ‘thrilled’ and ‘incredibly proud’ to have reached the South West finals of the awards.
The volunteer-run village shop, which now includes a Post Office, was set up as community interest company in 2010, originally operating from a portable building in the village hall car park, and profits are put back into the business or to local projects.
It now stocks more than 2,000 items, including fresh fruit and vegetables, newspapers and magazines, a range of ‘free-from’, organic, Fairtrade, and speciality foods, household goods, cards and stationery, and wines and spirits.
The shop supports more than 30 local producers within a five-mile radius of Churchinford who provide meat, dairy products, free-range eggs, bread, cakes, sandwiches, cider, and beer.
It also acts as a ‘mini rural tourist information centre’ offering maps and details of local services and events.
The awards, which received more than 17,000 nominations this year, are the Countryside Alliance’s annual celebration of British food and farming, enterprise, and heritage, recognising small, hard-working businesses.
Now in their 16th year, they have become the definitive rural business award to win and are set apart from other award schemes because they are driven by public nomination, offering customers an opportunity to say why their favourite businesses were worthy of national acclaim.
Countryside Alliance Awards director Sarah Lee said: “We have been overwhelmed by nominations this year.
“The secret to the popularity is that they honour the people involved in these businesses and not just their produce or services.
“They exist to sing the praises of those who work hard to keep our communities and rural economy ticking, but do not seek the spotlight.
“These awards provide a cause for celebration in a time of great uncertainty in the countryside.
“Our local produce is second to none and there are many community heroes and businesses worthy of national recognition.”
The winners are being chosen via a public vote being held this month with the results to be announced in the spring.
The winners of each region will then be up against fellow winners from around the UK and national champions will be announced at a House of Lords reception in June.