Bridport businesses are some of the best in the county at Dorset Food, Drink and Farming Awards

Bridport businesses have been highlighted as some of the best in the county, with many picking up accolades at the annual Dorset Food, Drink and Farming Awards.

Dark Bear mobile bar was named the best food/drink delivery experience.

Lloyd Brown of Dark Bear said: "A massive thank you to everyone who supported us, it's been so much fun dropping cocktails off to folks and has kept our spirits up waving through windows and having chats during lockdown.

"What started off as a way of keeping our business alive has become an integral part and we are now focusing on delivering for Christmas, as well as our 'sip along tastings' every Friday at 7pm. This coming Friday we have Tarquins gin, a real local favourite.

"Massive thanks to Pete at Gorilla Canning for lending us the canning machine, without you it wouldn't have been possible."

The Half Moon pub in Melplash picked up the best dining experience to go award.

Jamie Pimbley, landlord of the Half Moon said: "We are so proud of our team and the effort we have all put in to provide our takeaway and delivery service born from the first Covid-19 lockdown, but will continue to be a part of our business moving forwards.

"To celebrate this achievement, all weekend we are offering free delivery for all online orders over £25.

"We would also like to mention our son, Ben Pimbley, for his efforts helping get the web shop up and running and the continued maintenance and support with the IT equipment he has so eagerly assisted us with."

Other winners also included Furleigh Estate and Bothen Hill, who were awarded the business collaboration award for their deliveries of Bacchus and asparagus throughout the lockdown.

In this category, Mercato Italiano was highly commended for its Bridport Basket.

Rebecca Hansford of Furleigh Estate said: "Working with Anita and Chip de Greef during lockdown was an absolute pleasure for me.

"Bothen Hill's asparagus grows literally over the hedge from Furleigh Estate. It is a superb product in its own right and goes perfectly with our Bacchus dry white wine.

"After a couple of weeks, we were selling around 100 bunches of asparagus a week.

"It was good to have some cash coming in but what I enjoyed was seeing Anita every Wednesday at 6am. A friendly face and some exchange of gossip. I then worked away boxing everything up, imagining as I did so all the delighted faces of people as they opened these wonderful boxes of green Dorset freshness.

"To win the award was an unexpected delight. The best bits for me of the whole thing were helping out Bothen Hill when things were uncertain for them, and reading about the joy people were expressing on receiving their boxes from west Dorset."

Anita of Bothen Hill said: "We were delighted to learn of the award, working with our neighbours at Furleigh gave us the opportunity to showcase our award winning asparagus with their award winning wine to the whole of the country, showing what wonderful produce is available here in west Dorset.

"We also had great support from local people and are hugely grateful for this in what has been a very difficult year for everyone."

Other highly commended businesses included Framptoms of Butchers in the best independent food and drink retailer category, with the winner being Fruit 'n' Two Veg in Beaminster, Felicity's Farm Shop in the best farm shop category, missing out on the top spot to Jurassic Coast Farm Shop, and Baboo Gelato in food producer of the year after being named a champion in the Taste of the West Awards and gaining a Great British Food Award. The winner of this category was The Book and Bucket Cheese Company.