Cheers to another award for gin producer based near Rothwell

A gin producer has scooped yet another award after being named one of the winners at the '˜Rural Oscars.'
Tom WarnerTom Warner
Tom Warner

Warner Edwards from Hannington was among the winners for the Midlands at the 2016 Countryside Alliance Awards, which are better known as the Rural Oscars.

The Northamptonshire firm joined businesses from Warwickshire, Derbyshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Leicestershire and Northamptonshire in taking the honours and will now head to Parliament for the British finals and a shot at national glory.

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The awards, now in their twelfth year, are the Countryside Alliance’s annual celebration of rural produce, skills, enterprise and heritage through small hard-working businesses.

The Botanical Garden launched last SeptemberThe Botanical Garden launched last September
The Botanical Garden launched last September

In 2016 they received more than 7,500 public nominations, which were whittled down and judged to highlight the very best of rural business.

The awards are public-nomination led across five categories, which are local food and drink, village shop/post office, tourism enterprise, farm enterprise and butcher.

Warner Edwards Distillery, based at Falls Farm in Harrington near Rothwell, was the Midlands champion in the farm enterprise category.

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Judge Jill Grieve said: “Tom Warner is a force of nature who won’t let anything stop him when a good idea takes root.

Tom Warner with some of the gins they produceTom Warner with some of the gins they produce
Tom Warner with some of the gins they produce

“Having considered many different ways to diversify his family’s Northamptonshire farm, he hit upon making gin as a way of using many of the products grown on the farm, from elderflowers to sloes and other botanicals, and making something rather special.

“The distillery now enhances the farm and vice versa, and a newly planted botanicals garden in memory of Tom’s late mother is a touch that reminds you that the business is rooted in a close farming family.

“The gin itself is multi-award winning, but it’s the enthusiasm of Tom and his team as they work that is truly inspiring.

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“The gin has ensured the farm’s future, but is so much more than that and has really put Warner Edwards on the map, enabling them to support other local businesses as they draw tourists into their beautiful little village.”

The Parliamentary reception will be held at the House of Lords in London on March 22.