Exeter foodies urged to vote for their favourite local venue in Devon-wide awards

Food lovers can show their support for Devon’s outstanding hospitality scene as voting opens for Food Drink Devon’s new People’s Choice Award — Top Hospitality Venue.

The exciting new category, in the long established Food Drink Devon Awards, puts the power in the hands of consumers. 

Whether it’s an exceptional fine dining experience, a much-loved local pub, a cosy café or a vibrant street food vendor, if they’re a hospitality business based in Devon and committed to quality, sustainability and local sourcing, they could win the top spot thanks to your vote.

Jack Pickering from Food Drink Devon said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be championing the local voice this year through the Food Drink Devon People’s Choice Award.

“While our main awards celebrate excellence through a formal rigorous judging process, this category is all about the community, a chance for the public to get involved and shout about their favourite hospitality businesses.”

Jack added: “It’s a fun way to highlight special places and the deep connection people have with the food and drink experiences they love across Devon.

“If you have a go-to spot that deserves recognition, we urge you to make your vote count.”

Voting is open and runs until Sunday, August 31.

To vote,  simply  scan the QR code at their chosen hospitality venue or  visit  www.fooddrinkdevon.co.uk/consumers-award

The venue with the most votes will be revealed at the prestigious Food Drink Devon Awards ceremony, held at Sandy Park in Exeter on Monday, October 6.

A first for Food Drink Devon and launched with platinum award sponsors Empire Services and Beacon Compliance, there are plans to extend the People’s Choice Award in 2026 to include consumer favourites in the retailer and producer categories too.

The Food Drink Devon Awards are judged by a panel of independent and unbiased experts.

Food Drink Devon chair Greg Parsons said: “Judging the 2025 Food Drink Devon Awards has once again highlighted the incredible creativity and quality within our county. Devon’s producers and hospitality businesses are brilliant at using the rich resources of our Devon larder to craft and serve up amazing food and drink.  Never has it been more important to shine and under the expert guidance of Jack Pickering, Ali Neagle and Susy Atkins, this year we’ve further raised our judging processes and standards as well as bringing in new well known industry experts to join our already highly experienced judging team.”  
Greg continued: “We have worked hard to make the Food Drink Devon Awards a trusted mark of excellence for consumers seeking out the best the county has to offer and at a time of ongoing financial pressure, it’s more important than ever that every product and experience is the best it can be. The awards not only recognise this commitment but help to drive it forward, celebrating those who continue to raise the bar across the sector.”

You can visit fooddrinkdevon.co.uk for further information or follow @FoodDrinkDevon on X, Facebook and Instagram.