Wales' finalists in the 2016 Countryside Alliance Awards (aka the Rural Oscars) have been announced, with businesses from all over Wales going head to head for a national title and a shot at the British title.
The Awards are the Countryside Alliance's annual celebration of rural produce, skills, enterprise and heritage through our small hard-working businesses. They are now in their twelfth year and have become the definitive rural business award to win. This year we received over 7,500 nominations, meaning these finalists truly are the best of the best. The Awards are public-nomination led across five categories:
- Local Food & Drink
- Village Shop/ Post Office
- Tourism Enterprise
- Farm Enterprise
- Butcher
The finalists in the 2016 Rural Oscars in the Wales are:
Local food category
- The Hand, Llanarmon, Llangollen, Clwyd www.thehandhotel.co.uk/
- Fodder in the Field, Fordd y Pentre, Nercwys, Mold, Flintshire www.fodderinthefield.co.uk/
- Rhwbeth Melys, Ty Newydd, Maenclochog, Clunderwen, Pembrokeshire www.rhwbethmelys.co.uk/
- Penmincae Welsh Black Beef and Lamb, Gellynen Lodge, Cwmbach, Builth Wells, Powys www.facebook.com/PenmincaeWelshBlackBeefandLamb/
Village shop / Post Office category
- Llanarmon Yn Ial Community Shop, Liverpool House, Llanarmon Yn Ial, Mold www.llanarmon.com/
- Llanwrtyd Wells Auto Service & Post Office, Beulah Road, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys www.times-opening.co.uk/llanwrtyd-wells-auto-services-beulah-road-llanwrtyd-wells-powys-llanwrtyd-wells-detail
- Cwmni Cletwr, Siop Cynfelyn, Cwmni Cymunedol Cletwr, Tre'r Ddôl, Machynlleth, Powys www.cletwr.com/
- Pennard Stores/Three Cliffs Coffee Shop, 68 Southgate Road, Pennard, Gower, Swansea http://threecliffs.co.uk/
Farm enterprise category
- Hayley Hanson Hide, Maescoed Farm, Llandefalle, Brecon www.hayleyhansonhide.co.uk/
- Only Pets and Horses and Oriel Ffynnon Gift Shop, Blaenffynnon, Llandysul, Carmarthenshire
- Slade Farm Organics, Slade Farm, Southerndown, Vale of Glamorgan http://sladefarmorganics.com/
- Gower Fresh Christmas Trees, Poundffald Farm, Three Crosses, Gower www.facebook.com/GowerFreshChristmasTrees/
Tourism enterprise
- Forest Farm, Forest Farm Country Park, Forest Farm Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff http://forestfarm.org.uk/
- The Welsh Hawking Centre, Welsh Hawking Centre, Weycock Road, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan www.welsh-hawking.co.uk/
- Pembrokeshire Falconry, Picton Castle, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire www.pembrokeshire-falconry.co.uk/
- Gower Heritage Centre, Parkmill, Gower, Swansea www.gowerheritagecentre.co.uk/
Butcher
- Edwards of Conwy, 18 High Street, Conwy www.edwardsofconwy.co.uk/
- Sarn Village Shop Cig Cerion, Waterloo House, Sarn Pwllheli, Gwynedd
- N S James & Son, Crown Square, Raglan, Monmouthshire www.nsjames.co.uk/
- Bethesda Farm and Coffee Shop, Rose Villa, Bethesda, Narberth, Pembrokeshire www.bethesdafarmshop.co.uk/
Notes to editors:
- Each business will receive a visit from judges.
- Welsh winners will be announced at a reception at the Pierhead in Cardiff on 1st Welsh champions will advance to the British finals.
- Regional titles will be awarded for: South West, South East, East, Midlands, North, Wales.
- The British finals will be held at the House of Lords in London on Wednesday 22nd March 2017
- Follow the Awards on Twitter @CAAwards and use the hashtag #RuralOscars