Haydock Park honoured among other winners at National Racecourse Catering Awards

Haydock Park Racecourse has won the Judges' Catering Excellence Award at this year's National Racecourse Catering Awards.

The ceremony, which took place last Friday 4 October at Ascot Racecourse and was sponsored by Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, recognised achievement and excellence in the field of racecourse catering.

Other notable winners included Sandown Park, which won Best Fine Dining Experience and Best Wine List, and general manager of Cheltenham Racecourse Carol Cole, who won the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her 35-year contribution to the industry.

Ascot Racecourse won the People's Choice Award, Goodwood took home Best New Venture, Epsom scooped the Best Bar Award, while Haydock Park also won the gong for Best Casual Dining Experience.

Judges included Paul Friel from Piper-Heidsieck, former managing director of Jockey Club Catering Bob Reeves, event organiser Ivor Spreadbury and retired Unilever sales director Keith Smith.

Commenting on the awards, Ivor Spreadbury, of Merbury Catering Consultants, said: "This year was a tough year of judging with many of the racecourses opening new restaurants and bars. The standard of racing at any racecourse is sublime and the quality of food ensures each racegoer's experience is first class."

He added: "The awards have recognised the very best in racecourse catering and we were thrilled with the amount of entries we received for the People's Choice award."

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Best Fine Dining
Equus Restaurant at Sandown Park

Best Casual Dining
Haydock Park, Country Kitchen

Best Mobiles
Carlisle and Hamilton Park, The Supreme Group

Best Bars
Epsom, Camelot's Bar

Wine List
Sandown Park

Best New Venture
Goodwood's The Secret Garden

Best Food Supplier
Equi's Ice Cream, Hamilton Park

Best Drinks Supplier
Molson Coors / Jockey Club Catering

Best New Catering Product
Frizzenti Draught Prosecco at Windsor

Most Effective Brand
John Smiths at Aintree

Best Local Supplier
Wold Top Yorkshire Brewery at Beverley

Lifetime Achievement
Carol Cole from Cheltenham Racecourse

People's Choice Award
Ascot

REGIONAL JUDGES AWARDS

Scotland
Hamilton Park

North
Haydock Park

Midlands
Newmarket

London South East
Goodwood

West/Wales
Wincanton

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