Welcome to the Ox In A Box Food Awards 2025 and here is our last category BEST FOOD HERO 2025. VOTE HERE
The awards will be held on Monday May 12 at The Ashmolean, with a fabulous after party at Dishoom’s Permit Room in Oxford.
Sponsored by headliners Goldstar Recruitment and The Feathers, with Brandpay and Jolly Foods, as well as Oxford Fine Dining and Grape Minds on board, and Raymond Blanc of Le Manoir fame lined up to host, the voting has kicked off today. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
Cherwell Collective, Kidlington – Aims to stop food waste and feed communities and vulnerable groups by supplying food rations, such as freshly-cooked food or fresh fruit and vegetables, often combining it with offering additional support services for everyday life. It’s Climatarian Cafe at WISH (reopening officially on March 29) at 4 The Parade in Kidlington, serves delicious hot meals. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
Damascus Rose, OFS, Oxford – The best example of how a social enterprise can not only benefit the Syrian refugee women who cook such incredible authentic Middle-Eastern food, and the OFS who hosts them in their vibrant cafe but also the public who flock there to the city centre cafe for the excellent food. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
Down To Earth Community Cafe, Wantage – The community cafe aims to provide food in an inclusive and friendly environment. The food is delicious, healthy and affordable, and uses as much surplus food as possible with Toastie Tuesdays, and a warm space and meal on Thursdays. But they go the extra mile with the Community Cook-Ins, where you can cook a meal together and share a meal together and Small Steps which provide children with a healthy breakfast, a homework club, and environmental activities on a Saturday morning. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
FarmEd Cafe, Shipton Under Wychwood – Devoted to sharing their knowledge about regenerative farming, sustainability, food and biodiversity, from introductory level through to deeper dives. While the FarmED Cafe serves delicious, nourishing, seasonal food, fresh from the farm. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
Flo’s, East Oxford – Such an incredible location in Florence Park, where children can play and locals and visitors can enjoy the charming cafe, every single purchase and meal bought supporting their work in the community, from their homemade soups to curry, mezzes, paninis, bagels, wraps and an extensive brunch menu. Flo’s Hatch has also been introduced on sunny days and the new Me & You scheme offers a free hot meal or hot drink to anyone who may be in need. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
Good Food Oxfordshire – Good Food Oxfordshire – Supporting individuals and organisations in creating a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable food system for Oxfordshire. Their mission is that everyone in Oxfordshire has the food they need to thrive every day. With a network of over 200 organisations, including local food businesses, farmers, growers, institutions, and community groups, they are driving positive change. Their OxFarmToFork project is a ‘game-changing’ place-based food hub that connects Oxfordshire’s institutions, such as Oxford University colleges, directly with local agro-ecological food producers (simplifying supply chains and making sustainable, local food more accessible). Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
Iraqi Women Art and War Pop Up Cafe, cooking the food they love from their homeland, currently at OCVA’s base at The Source in the Old Courthouse in Oxford on Saturdays in March, all money raised helping to raise issues that women face in the Middle East. Their pop ups are so delicious. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
LEAGUE OF FRENDS, JR HOSPITAL, HEADINGTON. The volunteers work tirelessly to not only feed vulnerable, ill or visiting clientele, bu their sandwiches, rolls and cakes are so delicious and make such a difference, giving people time to regroup and sustain themselves in what are often difficult times. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
Oxford City Farm, Cornwallis Road, Oxford working and learning together to produce food locally and live healthy, enriched, and sustainable lives. The urban farm serves as a community hub, connecting people with their food, each other and an accessible green space to grow food and nourish the wellbeing of our local community and our environment. Holds family friendly and community sessions, grow your own and Wellies and Bellies cooking session using produce from the farm. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
Oxford City Community Fridge, Oxford – a new HeartyEarth movement project set up Oxford’s Westgate Hotel near the station, due to open imminently. It’s all about food waste for this dynamic group who use surplus food donated to Oxford Food Hub and transform it into delicious free meals and curries. Here they are also donating food to anyone who pops by. A fantastic new initiative. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
Restore Garden Cafe, Cowley Road – From mental health recovery, to employment goals, volunteering or training, it’s cafe and gardens provide home-made lunches made from locally sourced produce. A great haven in the city centre and worthy cause proving that food is a way to bring communities together. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
Tap Social, Oxfordshire – So pioneering in so many ways, they have so much on their plates with numerous branches to run from bars and bakeries to eateries and a brewery. Situated all over Oxfordshire from Banbury and Oxford’s Covered Market to Kennington and Botley, all of it is geared towards rehabilitating prisoners by giving them valid work and support. And Tap goes to extraordinary lengths to achieve it. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
Thomas Franks Foundation, Feeding Communities, Hook Norton – Uses Thomas Franks’ corporate resources and expertise to produce made-up food parcels and freshly prepared meals in response to those in need, with no questions asked. New arms include the Beyond Education-Being Human programme to provide children and young adults with essential cooking and food based life skills through practical workshops, Feet up Fridays for unpaid carers, and We Grow You Grow which educates children from an early age in food usage and their impact on the planet. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
Waste 2 Taste, Cowley – This wonderful community cafe is bursting with enthusiasm and positivity as well as some mighty fine food using surplus food, its menu as inviting and delicious as any cafe anywhere. Aims to not only feed and reduce food waste but provide a welcoming place for anyone and everyone, to tackle isolation and loneliness. Plus the team are absolutely lovely and unfailing in their quest. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
Water Tank Cafe, Oxfam Superstore, Cowley. A lovely affordable cafe right in the middle of our favourite charity warehouse. Think soups, cakes and great coffee when you need a break from all that vintage shopping! All in a good cause! Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
Worthy Earth, Blenheim, Woodstock. Providing fresh, organically-grown produce to the local area and hubs of social engagement and learning where clubs and school visits are encouraged and volunteers hail from rehabilitation centres, youth groups and primary schools. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
Yellow Submarine Cafe – Oxford, Witney and Woodstock – Recently opened at Woodstock Swimming Pool, to add to their two current venues, their homemade cakes and sandwiches are always delicious, and the work they do teaching those with learning disabilities and autism to work in hospitality, encouraging life skills and employment on the way, is galvanising. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
There are 10 categories including BEST NEWCOMER, BEST PUB/BAR, BEST CAFE, BEST RESTAURANT, BEST VEGGIE/VEGAN, BEST CHEF, BEST GASTROPUB, BEST INTERNATIONAL, OXFORDSHIRE HOSPITALITY WOMAN OF THE YEAR, BEST COMMUNITY FOOD HERO.
The top four nominations from each category will be invited to the glittering ceremony where the winners will be announced, so get voting and pick your favourite.
You can only vote once in each category, so keep voting every day in all 10 categories! Voting ends at the beginning of May. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/339pwzai
