Shiplake: The Baskerville wins 2016 Oxfordshire Restaurant of the Year award

The Baskerville at Shiplake-on-Thames has been adjudged 2016 Oxfordshire Restaurant of the Year. The announcement was made at a ceremony organised by The In Oxford Group, publishers of Living in Oxford Magazine and sponsored by Hedges Law. The Baskerville was also winner of the best Gastro Pub/Brasserie category. The judging panel, chaired by Alain Desenclos, Maître d' of Le Manoir Quat'Saisons for 26 years, was particularly impressed by The Baskerville owners' pride in the food they create.

Kevin Hannah, owner of The Baskerville, said: "I thought we might be in with a chance to win our category, but not to win the top award. It's down to 13 years of hard work with my Dad and all of us as a family, and to my incredible staff and every single person who has worked with us.”

Orwells at Binfield Heath also celebrated success as Ryan Simpson and Liam Trotman jointly won chef of the year. The Living in Oxford team awarded Acanthus Restaurant, at the iconic Macdonald Randolph Hotel, the prize for their top restaurant.

This was the first year an award was given for the Most Sustainable Restaurant, and this was won by theVaults and Garden Café in Radcliffe Square. Hannah Fenton, manager of Good Food Oxford, sponsor and judge for this award, said: "This award celebrates the restaurant that puts sustainability at the heart of its business - with a farmer-first approach to sourcing, delicious vegetarian options, excellent efforts on food-waste reduction and great communication with customers.”

Another new and hotly contested category was for the best college dining room, won by St Antony's College. The much acclaimed Restaurant 56 at Sudbury House, Faringdon won the best gastronomic restaurant for the second year running and last year's Restaurant of the Year, The White Hart at Fyfield, won the Public Vote.

Richard Rosser, chief executive of the In Oxford Group which organised the event, said: "Well over 250 people work tirelessly behind the scenes to make these awards such a success.”

Nicola Poole, managing director of Hedges Law was on the judging panel and co-presented the awards. She said: "This is our second year as main sponsor for these fantastic awards.  It's an absolute pleasure to be so closely involved in recognising the very best our county has to offer in the hospitality sector. Hospitality is a major pillar of the local economy and now contributes to 10% of direct employment in the county.  There are currently over 160,000 reviews of 1700 Oxfordshire restaurants on TripAdvisor.  There are 200 more restaurants than last year and there are 50,000 more reviews.  Testament to the power of reviews, recognition, and of course, awards.”

Here is the list of winners:

2016 Restaurant of the Year – Winner: The Baskerville

Gastro Pub / Brasserie – Winner: The Baskervillle. Runners Up: The Pointer Brill, Quod and The Kingham Plough

Gastronomic Restaurant – Winner: Restaurant 56 at Sudbury House. Runners Up: Shaun Dickens at the Boathouse, The Lamb Inn, Burford

Chef of the Year – Winner: Ryan Simpson and Liam Trotman, Orwells. Runner's Up:  Rohan Kashid, Quod Ray Killick, St Anne’s

Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons Award for Excellence – Winner: The Oxford Kitchen. Runners Up: Old Parsonage, The Bell at Hampton Poyle

Traditional Pub Restaurant – Winner: The Swan Inn, Ascott-under-Wychwood.  Runners Up:  The Maytime Inn, the Killingworth Castle

Asian – Winner: Thaikhun. Runners Up:  Qumins, Gurkha Village

The Wellers Public Vote – Winner: The White Hart, Fyfield.  Runners Up:  Thaikun, Old Bookbinders and The Snooty Mehmaan

Outstanding Service Award – Winner: La Cucina. Runners Up:  The Chester, Restaurant 56 at Sudbury House and Pierreponts Café/Restaurant, Goring

Award of Distinction – Winner: Garden Café at Restore.  Runners Up: Yellow Submarine and The White Hart at Minster Lovell

The 2016 City of Oxford College Trainee Award – Winner: Chris Angus, St Anne's College. Runners Up: Zac Doughey, The Oxford Kitchen, Aishia Johnston, Wofson College

Living in Oxford Award – Winner: Acanthus Restaurant. Runners Up:  GAF, The Kingham Plough

Oxfordshire's Most Sustainable Restaurant – Winner: Vaults and Garden Café.  Runners Up: The Partridge Wallingford, The Garden Café at Restore

Best College Dining Room - Winner: St Antony's. Runners Up:  Lady Margaret Hall,  St Anne’s

Dining on the go or a quick meal in an informal setting – Winner:  Express, Deli, Café

Winner: Aston Pottery Country Café

Runners Up: Vaults & Garden Café, Mission Burrito