A total of eight members were announced winners in the 2021 Brilliance in Business Awards ceremony, held on Thursday at Brockenhurst College.

Overall, 18 New Forest Marque members were nominated for awards with eight proving winners in a range of categories. This is a wonderful achievement for our members and shows the strength of support for local produce and businesses in the New Forest.

Special congratulations go to The Forest Foodie for winning the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership Award for Business of the Year.

The Forest Foodie founder Flora Richardson said: ‘We are absolutely over the moon, overwhelmed, a little shell shocked and incredibly proud to win The New Forest Marque Award for Food & Drink 2021, especially being up against two other brilliant local businesses in the finals, one of whom we work very closely with.

‘It was then a huge honour to win New Forest Business of the Year 2021. Never in a million years would we have ever thought it would be us, having set up the business just over a year ago.

‘It is truly humbling and a real testament to what we set out to achieve when starting The Forest Foodie – to support as many small, local, independent businesses as possible and to tell the stories behind the origin of the food to both visitors and locals alike. We are hugely excited about the year ahead. Thank you so much.’

The other winners were:

The Hampshire County Council Award for Contribution to the New Forest

Finalist: The Trusty Servant-Jennifer Howard
Finalist: Welcome Brockenhurst – Richard Dance
WINNER Woodlander Coppice– Paul Brockman

The New Forest Marque Award for Food and Drink

Finalist: Hockey’s Farm Shop _ Johnny and Laura Stainton_Burrell
Finalist: New Forest Shortbread – Tracy Thew
WINNER The Forest Foodie – Flora Richardson

The New Milton Advertiser and Lymington Times Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Visitor Economy

Finalist: Hoburne – Rosie Kennar
WINNER Forest Park Hotel

The New Forest Enterprise Centre Award for Best New Business

Finalist: New Forest Fish and Shellfish – Bart Small

The Eric Robinson Solicitors Award for Young Person in Business

WINNER   New Forest Fish and Shellfish – Bart Small

The New Forest National Park Authority Award for Environmental Contribution

Finalist: Cottage Lodge Hotel – Maurizio and Francesca Redelli
Finalist: Welcome Brockenhurst – Richard Dance
WINNER The Naked Pantry and The Naked Quench – Kathy Sirl

The Forest Foot & Health Clinic Award for Health and Wellbeing

Finalist: Minstead Trust – Dawn Wood
WINNER New Forest Hotels – Garry Baldwin

The GetSet Solent Award for COVID-Pandemic Business Hero

Finalist: Forest Park Hotel – Kevin Wood
WINNER The Naked Pantry and The Naked Quench – Kathy Sirl

Claire Lee, Operations Manager for the New Forest Marque said: ‘It was fantastic to see so many local businesses celebrating outstanding achievements at the Brilliance in Business Awards and we were super proud to see so many New Forest Marque members shortlisted as finalists. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists! ‘The past two years have been so challenging for everyone in so many ways and this was a real chance to celebrate the achievement of businesses across all sectors in the New Forest. ‘The New Forest Marque is pleased to sponsor the Food and Drink Award recognising exceptional Food and Drink from local suppliers. Well done to our winner The Forest Foodie, as well as our finalists Hockey’s Farm Shop and New Forest Shortbread.’

2021 Brilliance in Business Awards Winners