LIFTON Strawberry Fields has recently received the gold award for both their farm shop and their restaurant in the Taste of the West awards.

Established in 1991, Taste of the West is a scheme that promotes and supports local food and drink.

Unbeknown to Lifton Strawberry Fields, an anonymous judge in disguise as a mystery shopper visited both the farm shop and the restaurant, being able to experience the shopping and dining experience like any other customer, and seeing if the farm shop and restaurant met certain criteria to be in with a chance of winning the award.

It only came to the attention of Lifton Strawberry Fields’ staff that they had been visited by Taste of the West when the anonymous judge told them at the end of their visit at the till point.

Laura Mounce, manager, said: “It’s a great thing to be involved in. I think it’s brilliant; we have a fantastic team here, and it’s great that our excellent customer service and food quality has been recognised.”

Lifton Strawberry Fields recently took part in the Devon County Show, and is due to participate in the Royal Cornwall Show.