Striking gold again at Coldharbour Farm
Coldharbour Field Kitchen struck gold again at the Devon Tourism Awards taking top spot in the Casual Dining category ahead of fellow finalists Cary Arms & Spa and the Cove Café Bar.
It’s the second time the Ottery St Mary eaterie has been awarded gold in this category; it was also named winner in the 2022/3 awards, less than a year after opening.
Building on this early success, the Field Kitchen has since added an outdoor kitchen with a wood fired oven, adding freshly made pizzas to the menu to eat in and take away, plus new options for seasonal tapas which now incorporate wood fired meat, fish and vegetables.
Co-owner Beth Ashfield said: “It was a real thrill to achieve gold again in these hotly contested awards. We’re really proud of what we offer - and I guess the proof is in the pudding; we’ve built up a really loyal customer base and attracted even more tourists who were hearing good things about us.”
Beth and business partner Andrea Broadhurst have also supported local musicians, holding two weekend music festivals and provides regular acoustic slots for local musicians to perform.
This time round, the Field Kitchen also bagged a bronze for the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award, the first time Coldharbour has entered this category. These principles have been key to the business from the start, from a genuine commitment to supporting local suppliers to the installation of solar panels and storage batteries and utilizing spring water.
Beth’s business partner, Andrea Broadhurst said: “Coldharbour is off grid so we’ve had to seek alternative energy sources. But for us, its more than necessity, we really do look at all areas of the business to make sure we are a sustainable business. This includes our impact on our local community, support for charities, recycling materials and waste management. And we’re not resting on our laurels, we have more ideas for the future, including a small windmill and growing more of our own produce on site.”
After the snowfall and threat of icy conditions, Andrea and Beth decided not to risk the journey to Plymouth so weren’t there in person to collect their awards. “Instead we watched the announcements on Facebook, it was very exciting although not quite the same as being in the room!”
