Chester’s own Kingdom Recommends takes home the GOLD Award in the Gin Fusion category for Kingdom’s Ginger Spiced Gin, and the SILVER Award for Kingdom’s Vodka in the Vodka: Small Batch category.
The People’s Choice Drinks Awards ceremony, which took place at Stoller Hall in Manchester, welcomed people from across the country to celebrate some of the best spirits, bar and retail companies in the UK right now. From canned cocktails through to sipping Tequilas, there was something for everyone searching for the perfect tipple.
Pic copyright Phil Tragen 2021 (Kindgom and Karen Thenga sat bottom right)
Bartenders, brand owners, producers, consumer and professional judges gathered in Manchester to find out who had taken the top prize in each of the categories, in a ceremony hosted by Helena Nicklin and Aidy Smith, two of The Three Drinkers, a popular Amazon Prime series. Comedy was courtesy of Steve Royle, a Britain’s Got Talent finalist and local funny man.
This year’s entries were also an exciting reflection of the trends driving the spirits and cocktail market in 2022. From mindful drinking and no and low alcohol spirits, to ready-to-drink cocktails and, of course, the ever-popular gin.
Kingdom Recommends is a company created by founder Kingdom Thenga who came to London from South Africa at the age of 18 to further his education, better his life and support his family at home. His plans did not work out and that optimistic, happy boy ended up living on the streets in London, feeling hopeless and alone. However, the kindness and empathy of a stranger in London Victoria Station, gave him a lifeline, lifted him up and set him on his path into hospitality and for that, his is grateful.
Twenty years later Kingdom is settled in Chester with a family and an impressive business portfolio including a number of local bars and restaurants which include Old Dukes, The Yard and The suburbs. Together with these is the sprits business Kingdom Recommends. KR is built on the spirit of ubuntu which is a South African saying meaning ‘I am, because we are’. “Translated into the way we do business, it means we are committed to supporting and helping our community, individuals and other businesses we work with, which will help us all to grown together and benefit more and more”. Kingdom has a passion for quality and winning these awards is recognition of that search for excellence and the hard work of the team over the past twelve months since Kingdom Recommends was launched in late 2020.
The People’s Choice Wine Awards was created in 2017 by Janet Harrison of Cracking Wine and Judy Kendrick, MD of award-winning wine marketing consultancy, JK Marketing.
The People’s Choice Drinks Awards, now incorporating wines and spirits, is the only UK-based national drinks awards dedicated to and judged by consumers with help and support from industry professionals. They are designed to accurately reflect how the average drinker in the UK chooses and enjoys wines and spirits.
All the winners can be found online here: https://peopleschoicedrinksawards.com/pcsa/2022-spirits-winnersfinalists/
Updated 4 March 2022
