BBC Great British Menu star Ben Palmer wins again with 'best chef' title

A chef who has restaurants in Cornwall and has appeared on BBC Two's Great British Menu has been crowned 'best chef' at the prestigious Trencherman's Awards. Ben Plamer was among the winners revealed at a vintage country house party in Devon.

The grand finale of the evening saw the Michelin chef crowned with the title of Best Trencherman’s Chef. Ben, the head chef of The Sardine Factory in Looe, earlier this year won the starter course on the Great British Menu. He also last year opened Yamas, a modern Greek restaurant in the same town. He offered a fantastic selection of traditional dishes that he learned about through his close ties with Greece a the venue which has garnered rave reviews. See our review of Yamas here, which says it's "exactly what Cornwall's been missing".

Other winners of the sought-after accolades were legendary hoteliers the Polizzi family - who own the Tresanton Hotel in St Mawes and obviously include TV's Hotel Inspector Alex - Nicholas Balfe’s uber-popular Somerset restaurant with rooms Holm, eco-chic Scarlet Hotel in Cornwall and newcomer Queen of Cups in Glastonbury, among others.

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Ben won through to have his course feature in the final banquet of the Great British Menu in Paris.He has spent nearly two decades yearning to compete in the Great British Menu, which airs on BBC Two.

During the run of the latest series, Ben said “I am absolutely over the moon to be through to the finals. Elly was an incredible competitor and the dishes she created were just superb. I wish both of us could have won, but I am so grateful to have this opportunity.

“It was a high pressure cook off with the ice cream machine nearly devastating my dessert efforts, but I was blessed with a last minute miracle and was able to achieve a perfect serve. Super proud to be representing the South West in the finals of the show and can’t wait to see what happens next.”

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Trencherman’s Guide editor Abi Manning and Salt Media’s editorial director Jo Rees hosted the ceremony which is considered the region’s hottest ticket in the culinary calendar, comprising a multi-course feast cooked by previous award winners with the nine prizes given throughout the evening. The event on April 29 was attended by leading South West chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers, and food and drinks businesses. This year’s event had a dress code of ‘vintage glamour’ – inspired by the grand setting of Bovey Castle – and the fabulous outfits with sequins, feathers and velvet ensured guests felt transported to a golden era for the evening.

Trencherman’s Guide editor Abi Manning said: "It’s always a delight to gather the very best of the South West’s hospitality scene in one room. Their hard work, dedication and passion is the reason the South West enjoys such a stellar reputation for dining, and the awards showcase that. Trencherman’s restaurants represent the best of the best in the region, so competition is tough and being a finalist in itself is a huge achievement. Yet one of the joys of the awards is that there is such a sense of camaraderie and community – everyone is there to celebrate each other, and the South West hospitality industry as a whole."

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Full list of winners and runners-up

Best Trencherman's Chef - sponsored by Hallgarten & Novum Wines
Winner: Ben Palmer, The Sardine Factory

Finalists: Dave Jenkins, Salumi Bar & Eatery; Harriet Mansell, Lilac Restaurant & Wine Bar; Nicholas Balfe, Holm; Rick Toogood, Prawn on the Lawn, Padstow

Best Trencherman's Restaurant - sponsored by Dole
Winner: Holm, South Petherton

Finalists: Edie's, Carlyon Bay; Kota Restaurant, Porthleven; The Clockspire Restaurant and Bar, Sherborne; The Sardine Factory, West Looe

Award for Special Contribution - sponsored by Trevethan Distillery
Winner: The Polizzi Family

Best Trencherman's Hotel - sponsored by Classic Fine Foods
Winner: Scarlet Hotel, Mawgan Porth

Finalists: The Godolphin Hotel & Restaurant, Marazion; The Manor House, Castle Combe; The Seaside Boarding House, Burton Bradstock; The Slaughters Manor House, Lower Slaughter

Best Trencherman's Pub - sponsored by Sharp's Brewery
Winner: The Dartmoor Inn, Lydford

Finalists: The Langford Inn, Langford; The Old Coastguard, Mousehole; The Sheppey Inn, Wells; Three Horseshoes Pub & Kitchen, Burton Bradstock

Award for Creativity and Innovation - sponsored by St Ewe
Winner: Lilac Restaurant & Wine Bar, Lyme Regis

Finalists: Circa, Sandridge Barton; Holm, South Petherton; Queen of Cups, Glastonbury; The Queen's Arms, Corton Denham

Best Front of House Team - sponsored by Navas
Winner: Tom's Lyme Regis, Lyme Regis

Finalists: Fletcher's Restaurant, Plymouth; The Bath Arms at Longleat, Horningsham; The Bell Inn, Selsley; The Bunch of Grapes, Bradford-on-Avon

Best Trencherman's Newcomer - sponsored by Harvey & Brockless
Winner: Queen of Cups, Glastonbury

Finalists: Bar & Bistro at Tintagel Brewery, Tintagel; Bedruthan Hotel & Spa, Mawgan Porth; Catch at the Old Fish Market, Weymouth; Source Kitchen, St Ives

Best Bar List - sponsored by South West 660
Winner: The Old Coastguard, Mousehole

Finalists: Beckford Bottle Shop, Bath; Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa, Newquay; The Club House, West Bexington; Winslade Manor Bar & Restaurant, Exeter