The Dalesman Country Inn, Sedbergh has been shortlisted in not one, but two prestigious regional awards this year.

In January the pub was shortlisted along with two other businesses in the ‘Pub, Bar or Taproom of the Year’ category in the Cumbria Food Awards, to be held on 16 March at Kendal College.

In March, The Dalesman were named as finalists in the ‘Best Social Impact’ and ‘People’s Choice Cumbria’ categories alongside other family business titans from across the region in the 2023 North West Family Business Awards.

The Cumbria Food Awards recognise the very best in the food, drink and hospitality sector across the county, and will this year be hosted by the winner of television’s MasterChef and cookbook author Irini Tzortzoglou.

The North West Family Business Awards champion and celebrate the best family businesses of all sizes and from across all sectors located within the North West region. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony which will take place on Friday 19^th May, at The Concorde Conference Centre, near Manchester Airport.

Mike Garnett, Owner of The Dalesman (pictured alongside Front of House Team Carol Currie and Toni Speak) said, “It’s humbling to be shortlisted as finalists in these two respected regional awards. We’ve always believed in what we do, but it’s a great boost for tour team to receive the recognition. 

We were delighted to scoop the award for best Food & Drink Establishment at last year’s Family Business Awards and to be shortlisted again this year in the ‘Best Social Impact’ category is absolutely fantastic; it affirms that as hospitality business, we do things a little differently from the norm with family values at our heart.

Our involvement in supporting our local community and charitable causes is something that has evolved naturally over the years but it’s something we are very proud of as a business.”

The Dalesman is a 16^th century coaching inn that has been run by two generations of the same family for over thirty seven years. Whilst the pub still plays a central role in local community life, their Rosette standard food and drink offering also attracts foodie visitors to the picturesque town. A seasonally changing menu showcases the best of local produce allowing guests to experience a true taste of the fells.

Co-Founder and Director of the North West Family Business Awards, Sue Howorth said: “We have been absolutely blown away by the volume of outstanding award entries that came our way. Our judges were presented with some of the most inspiring and impressive submissions imaginable, making for a truly challenging selection process. Our finalists should feel incredibly proud of the hard work, commitment, and creativity which have taken them to the shortlist.”

Sue Bagguley from Siemens PLC near Manchester, who hosted the North West Family Business Awards judging day, said: “The number and quality of applications from across the North West has been outstanding. The businesses are clearly proud to be family businesses and the detail in many of the entries has demonstrated that they are very progressive and innovative.”

The Dalesman along with the other North West Family Business Awards finalists will now receive a visit from a panel of expert judges before the final decisions are made.