By Tanita Matthews

THE Hive Beach Cafe has been crowned regional champions of the Live Love Eat award in the cafe category.

The awards celebrate the ‘best of the best’ in Dorset catering. Thousands of votes decided a platinum award winner for each county in the South West region and then a regional champion. Platinum awards for the food and drink were rolled out over fifteen different categories including confectionary, sea food, meat and poultry, condiments, drink, cafe, pub, eggs and veg to name a few.

Sponsors included South West Events centre, MJ Baker Food Service Ltd and Rokk Media Dorset scooped a number of platinum awards.

Founder of Live Love Eat Vicki Sargent, 32, created the business to not only offer advice and support to those in the food and drink industry, but to thank them too.

“What I realised over the years was that something could be local but not necessarily good. Likewise, something can be excellent but not from this region. What I set out to achieve with the business was to show the public where they could get food and drink that are both local and quality. And this is what the awards will celebrate.” Vicki said.

“It is all about the producers, restaurants and retailers, about them doing something brilliant, and we want to thank them for making lots of people very happy.”

Platinum awards went to company Purbeck who were recognised for their dairy produce, while Indulge Bakery in Shaftesbury was given the award for their confectionary. The Hive Beach Cafe won a platinum award in the cafe category before being crowned regional champions.

There was a tie between two companies for condiments as From Dorset with Love and Olives Et Al both piped other businesses to the post.

Steve Attrill, 54 is the director of The Hive Beach Cafe, a family business in Bridport that overlooks the pebble beach and sea at Chisil Bank. Served at the cafe is a range of fresh fish, homemade cakes and locally made biscuits.

The cafe has recently been promoted in The Guardian, and was featured in Stella a few weeks ago.

When asked about the award, Steve said that it was a lovely surprise to be presented with on a rainy morning.

“It’s great for the business. It proves we’ve been doing something right for the twenty plus years we’ve been here for.” Steve said.

“I think the thing that keeps us going is that we are constantly pushing new ideas.”

The cafe is open 10-4 seven days a week.