Nottingham’s Larwood and Voce Pub and Kitchen has beaten off stiff competition from more than 440 hopefuls to win the coveted title of Best British Roast Dinner 2015.
The Nottingham pub-restaurant’s Sunday roast impressed the competition’s judges, who included top food critic Charles Campion. Following mystery dining, Larwood and Voce scooped the crown owing to its faultless cooking and choice of four meats. The judges were also impressed by the pub’s high degree of local sourcing: using pork from its own rare breed pigs, making its own condiments and baking its own bread.
Chris Brown, channel category manager, Unilever Food Solutions, said: “Standards were exceptionally high across the board, and to choose between the five finalists was an extremely close call, but Larwood and Voce just had the edge over the rest. Not only does it offer perfectly cooked food in a welcoming pub setting, there are plenty of innovative touches too, such as the option to buy a takeaway roast dinner or bring your own veg in exchange for a free pint.”
He added: “Entering the competition is a great way for pubs to earn a reputation for offering stand out roasts. And there’s no better way to bring in the bookings. Last year’s winner, The Truscott Arms in Paddington, London, saw its food revenues soar by 50%.” Having visited the Larwood and Voce, renowned food critic Charles Campion said: “The star of British Roast Dinner Week has been revealed. The Sunday menu offers four different roast dinners. As well as roast beef (tender, and a good sized portion) you can choose from roast lamb; honey roast gammon; or a whole roast chicken for families to share. At the weekend this gastropub is buzzing and you can hear the urgent clatter of knives and forks. The classic roast dinner is alive and well and living in Nottingham.”
Dan Cramp, General Manager of Larwood and Voce, said: “We are over the moon to be awarded the Best British Roast Dinner title. Our roast dinners are incredibly popular, we pride ourselves on the consistent quality. They form an important part of our menu and being crowned the winner of this prestigious national competition has made the whole team very proud.”
Larwood and Voce was awarded the title on Sunday, 4 October to mark the last day of British Roast Dinner Week 2015, an annual event sponsored by KNORR® Gravy and supported by COLMAN’S® Mustard that celebrates the nation’s favourite pub meal. It encourages pubs, restaurants, hotels and staff canteens to serve roasts every day.
Chris Brown said: “Roast dinners are the nation’s favourite pub food[1]. In fact, 40% of consumers say they want a roast on the menu every day of the week. [2] So they shouldn’t be locked away, served only on Sundays.”
To try the winning roast for yourself, visit: http://www.molefacepubcompany.co.uk/the-larwood-and-voce.html to book. To find out more about British Roast Dinner Week visit www.britishroastdinnerweek.co.uk