Becky Webb of The Chester arriving on stage to receive her Best Pub trophy in the Ox In A Box Food Awards last year

It was a night of epic celebrations for Oxfordshire’s hospitality industry yesterday at the Ox In A Box Food Awards, as the county’s culinary champions met, mingled and received their rightful recognition for the stellar work they’ve achieved over the past two years.

Katherine MacaAister at the The Ox In A Box Food Awards 2022. pic by Ed Nix

And what a night it was, as the great and the good packed into the wonderful Old Fire Station in Oxford for a black tie and canapé reception, followed by the awards ceremony themselves hosted by founder Katherine MacAlister, alongside Raymond Blanc OBE and Masterchef’s India Fisher.

Katherine MacAlister and Raymond Blanc OBE. Pic by Ed Nix

As if that wasn’t enough, the team from the Osler Respiratory Unit at the JR, who looked after Raymond Blanc when he had Covid, made a surprise appearance and received a standing ovation. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, especially when ‘Singing Sally’ the ward sister sang a beautiful and impromptu duet with Raymond.

Ginny Mountford-Flint: Matron for Specialist Medicine Directorate Maude McDonald : Deputy Sister Osler Respiratory Unit Rosalie Maneclang: Deputy Sister Osler Respiratory Unit Maria Tjim: Senior Nursing Assistant Osler Respiratory Unit, ward sister Sally Rosalie Manalac with Katherine Macalister and Raymond Blanc. Pic by Ed Nix

But the guests were there to find out who had triumphed in the 13 contested categories, whittled down to just four finalists in each from hundreds of entries. Over 20,000 members of the public voted.

The standing ovation for the Osler Respiratory Unit nurses

AND THE AWARD WINNERS ARE:

Best Newcomer 2020 – The White House Bladon

The White House Bladon crew at the Ox In A Box Food Awards 2022. pic by Ed Nix

Best Newcomer 2021 The Back Lane Tavern, Woodstock

Back Lane Tavern’s head chef Johnny Parke, landlord Chris Brewster and GM Hugo Kelly who won Best Newcomer 2021 in the Ox In A Box Food Awards 2022 with Raymond Blanc and India Fisher. pic by Ed Nix

Best Cafe The Milkshed, Weston On The Green

The Milkshed being presented their award by Frank Bothwell of Thomas Franks. pic by Ed Nix

Best veggie/vegan – The Punter

The Punter receives their Best Veggier/Vegan award from Frank Bothwell of Thomas Franks. pic by Ed Nix

Best Global – Oli’s Thai, East Oxford

Best Pub – The Chester, East Oxford

Becky Webb of The Chester arriving on stage to receive her Best Pub trophy in the Ox In A Box Food Awards from Bob of Ox Gins. pic by Ed Nix

Best European – El Rincon, Summertown

El Rincon receive her Best European trophy in the Ox In A Box Food Awards from Ox Gins. pic by Ed Nix

Best Pop Up – Table 13, Wheatley

Table 13 wins Best Pop up, here with Clinton Pugh at the Ox In A Box Food Awards 2022. pic by Ed Nix

Out Of The Box Award – The White Hart, Wytham

Andrew Carr and Baz from The White Hart Wytham with Clinton Pugh picking up their Out Of The Box Award at the to receive her Best Pub trophy in the Ox In A Box Food Awards 2022. pic by Ed Nix

Best Restaurant – No 1 Ship Street

No 1 Ship Street with Ted Sandbach of The Oxford Wine Company

Best Gastropub – The Hollybush, Witney

The Hollybush win Best Gastropub, seen here with Ted Sandbach of The Oxford Wine Company

Best Chef – The Nut Tree Inn, Murcott

Mike North of The Nut Tree wins Best Chef, presented by Raymond Blanc

Overall Winner: The Back Lane Tavern, Woodstock

Back Lane Tavern’s head chef Johnny Parke, landlord Chris Brewster and GM Hugo Kelly who won the Overall Winner award in the Ox IN A Box Food Awards 2022, awarded by Raymond Blanc. Pic by Ed Nix

A massive congratulations to all the winners, who have excelled at what they do to Make Oxfordshire such a culinary destination.

We also introduced our Food Hero Awards for the first time, to recognise the enormous hard work going on behind the scenes to feed the vulnerable and the NHS, the winners were:

  • Alex Mackay
  • Waste 2 Taste Cafe, Cowley
The Waste2Taste ladies receive their award from Raymond Blanc. Pic by Ed Nix
  • Taste Tibet, East Oxford
Taste Tibet’s Julie and Yeshi with Raymond Blanc
  • Frank Bothwell of the Thomas Franks Foundation
Frank Bothwell of the Thomas Franks Foundation with Raymond Blanc

Huge thanks must go to our sponsors Thomas Franks, Four Seasons Fruiterers, Goldstar Recruitment, Oxford Fine Dining, The Oxford Wine Company and Ox Gins

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