Top UK award for Northern Irish farm food business

Pheasants' Hill Farm in Northern Ireland, a specialist in a broad range of grass-fed meats and free range poultry and pork, has won a major title in 2017's Great British Food Awards.

Based at Downpatrick in county Down, the family farm business has been named as the "Best Deli in Northern Ireland' in the awards for its meats and convenience foods in the magazine's awards. As well as a popular deli and farm shop, the company operates an e-commerce site and delivers products. In addition, it has a successful street food business, takes part in local farmers' markets and provides an extensive catering services.

Highly commended in the category was Ballylagan Organic Farm in Ballyclare in county Antrim which also produces a range of meats and is home to Northern Ireland's only biltong producer.

The Great British Food Awards, organised by the popular magazine of the same name, are seen as the benchmark of excellence for British artisan food.

Representing the best of British from across 20 categories, this year's winning products and businesses were praised by top chef and restaurateur Nathan Outlaw, who said: "The quality and innovative ideas that British artisan producers are bringing to the marketplace are quite extraordinary.

"I've seen that over the past three years of judging for of the Great British Food awards. The standard continues to improve year-on-year and the passion these producers have for what they are doing shines through in their products."

Great British Food magazine readers judged across a further 20 categories with a record 11,400 participating. Natasha Lovell-Smith, editor of Great British Food and chair of the judging panel, added:

"Yet again, I was impressed beyond expectation by the outstanding quality of entries. They came from every corner of the UK and just the process of shortlisting them for the judging finals was no mean feat.

"Our judges are all celebrated in their fields, and all were extremely complimentary about the quality of the shortlisted products. All our winners, runners up and finalists should be very proud indeed."