Taste of the West gold awards for two Exmoor B&Bs

TWO Exmoor accommodation providers have won gold in this year’s Taste of the West Awards, the Somerset winners of which were announced today.
Taste of the West champions the South West’s exceptional food identity and the awards aim to acknowledge food and drink of the highest quality produced in the region and those establishments committed to serving the produce to their guests.
Cliff and Trisha Nicholson, of Spears Cross, Dunster, took gold in the bed and breakfast category of the awards for a second successive year
Mr Nicholson said: “This is quite amazing. We have further improved our menu since last year, sourcing even more produce locally to the extent that our bacon is specially cured by our butcher and smoked by our fishmonger to our own specific requirements.
“With rare breed, free-range sausages from less than three miles away and even furniture that is made locally, our customers have a truly unique Westcountry experience.
“Our Gold win last year definitely helped increase business through word of mouth and using the award logo across all our marketing materials, so we look forward to shouting about our second award win in a row.”
The other Exmoor winner was Three Acres Country House, in Brushford, run by Julie and Edward Christian, which also received a gold award in the bed and breakfast category.
Mrs Christian said: “Our breakfast, which has won a Taste of the West Gold Award for 2006 and 2007, is prepared to order using fresh local ingredients.
“The unspoilt charm of Dulverton is nearby and the options are endless for exploring Exmoor.”
Taste of the West chief executive John Sheaves said: “Consumers are increasingly choosing to spend more of their income on quality food and drink, so much so that this year the market for local food in the UK has been valued at £4.8 billion.
“Despite this, many of the region’s hospitality, retail, and accommodation outlets still source food and drink through central purchasing contracts.
“The awards are therefore designed to highlight those outlets in the region that are proactively incorporating South West produce into their offerings, excelling in quality and, importantly, shouting about what they are doing.
“Not only are these outlets benefiting financially by responding to consumer demand, they are also bolstering the local economy and supporting our thriving producers.
“I therefore take my hat off to the winners and would personally like to thank them for embracing the produce on our doorstep for the greater good of the region and its economy.”
Support from key sponsors is vital to the continuation of the Taste of the West Awards, and Musgrave Retail Partners GB was again the lead sponsor this year.
Jonathon Bayne, head of technical services sustainability and regulatory affairs, said: “Musgrave works with entrepreneurial Budgens and Londis food retailers to provide the consumer with a food offer that is different and better.
“The standard and quality of establishments entered in the Taste of the West Awards simply gets better each year, testament to the ability of these winners to respond to changing consumer demand for local, quality produce.
“We are therefore delighted to be so involved in these highly respected awards for the 10th successive year.”
The awards are judged by a panel of industry experts who visit the winners anonymously and look for quality of food, cooking and service, ambience, evidence of local sourcing, and knowledgeable staff.
Taste of the West’s overall winners in the product, hospitality, and retail categories will be announced at a prestigious ceremony being held in Powderham Castle, near Exeter, on Tuesday, December 2.
More than 200 food and drink producers, retailers, restaurateurs, chefs, hoteliers, and invited guests will gather to discover who will win the coveted Champion Product Award for 2008 and the South West regional hospitality and retail awards.
The awards will be presented by celebrity chef brothers Chris and James Tanner.

• Our photographs show (TOP) Spears Cross, Dunster, and (BELOW) Three Acres Country House, Brushford. Photos submitted.

New faces and boundaries for West Somerset police beat teams

CHANGES have been made to the faces of police neighbourhood teams across West Somerset as a result of retirements and officers moving on.
Minehead police Inspector Carol Pearce said: “I welcome our new appointments, who each bring additional skills to the local policing teams.
“Over the next few weeks the new beat managers will be getting to know their areas and making contact with local residents and key individuals.
“We are all committed to keeping West Somerset a low crime area, and to follow on the excellent work undertaken by all the staff over the last year.
“The neighbourhood teams are now tackling low-level crime and anti-social behaviour with the support of other agencies.
“It is important that all residents have their say, and they can do so via our website or by attending any of the area panel meetings which provide an opportunity at the start for the public to raise any concerns regarding how their neighbourhood is run.
“I am sure our new members of staff will be welcomed by their local communities.”
As part of the changes, boundaries of some of West Somerset’s beat areas have also been slightly altered to provide improved police cover for local residents.
The changes include:
Williton beat - PC James Holdsworth replaces Paddy O’Sullivan, who is due to retire in the near future.
PC O’Sullivan will remain at Williton to assist in the handover of his beat, which now solely covers Williton.
PC Holdsworth previously worked in Weston-super-Mare on the child abuse investigation team before transferring to West Somerset.
In addition, PCSO Mark Middleton-Smith moves across from Watchet to cover Williton with PC Holdsworth.
The new PCSO for Watchet is Linda Brooks, who has transferred from Taunton.
Old Cleeve and Crowcombe and Stogumber beats - PC Fiona Clopet takes over from PC Dave Masters, who has moved across to cover West Quantocks, in turn replacing PC Steve Woodward, who has transferred to Taunton.
PC Clopet worked in Williton several years ago and had recently been working in the road policing unit until her appointment as the beat manager.
The beat is another which has also been changed slightly, by taking in Crowcombe and Stogumber, while Carhampton moves back under the management of the Exmoor team.
Dunster, Aville Vale, and Carhampton and Withycombe beats - PC Mark Curren joins the team from Bristol, replacing PC Clare Adams, who stays with the Exmoor team but now covers the Dulverton and Brushford and Brompton Ralph and Haddon beats, where she takes over from recently-retired PC Colin Haddrell.
Minehead beats - PC Jamie McCall has been appointed to a new beat manager’s position within the Minehead town beat team.
He will take responsibility for the town centre and the commercial heart of Minehead, including Butlins.
It means the Minehead town beat team increases to three PCs, supported by four PCSOs.

Appeal by police to help find vulnerable woman missing on Exmoor

AN urgent appeal has been made by police for people to help to trace a high-risk vulnerable missing woman on Exmoor.
Celia Speirs, aged 75, went missing from an address in Dulverton, where she was staying on holiday with relatives, on Wednesday afternoon (May 14).
Mrs Speirs, who is from Scotland, was last seen at about 4.30 pm in Milham Lane, in Musgraves, walking in the direction of Brushford.
She is described as a white woman of slim build, about 5 ft 2 ins tall, with straight collar-length grey hair, and wearing glasses.
When she went missing, she was wearing a navy blue blouse with short sleeves, a navy blue skirt, and navy blue shoes.
Police are concerned that Mrs Speirs suffers with a short-term memory and would not know the area in which she went missing.
Although she might appear confused, it is likely she would speak to people.
She has a Scottish accent.
In addition to police officers and police community support officers searching for Mrs Speirs, the Exmoor Search and Rescue Team and police helicopter were also involved in trying to find her.
Police were concerned because it was believed Mrs Speirs did not have a coat or jacket with her when she went missing and could be vulnerable in bad overnight weather.
They are appealing for anybody in the Dulverton and Brushford area who spots a woman answering Mrs Speirs' description to contact them immediately.
Anybody who is able to help should call Taunton police station on 0845 4567000.