A double victory is being celebrated by Thanet winners at the prestigious Taste of Kent Awards.

At the 10th countywide TOKA event last night, Cliftonville Farmers Market won as Kent Farmers Market of the Year and Little Stour Orchard, which has its office in Margate, won a main award as Kent Juice Producer of the Year, also picking up a couple of other accolades.

Cliftonville Farmers’ Market was established in 2001 by the Cliftonville Residents Association, is run entirely by volunteers and is self funded.

It is one of the county’s longest running farmers’ markets and a previous winner of the Produced In Kent (PiK) award in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

The Cliftonville market was also a finalist in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013.

Organiser June Chadband said today: “We were really thrilled to regain our crown, particularly as the other finalists were Rochester and Tonbridge markets.

“It makes all the hard work worthwhile and gives something positive to Cliftonville.

“A special thanks to all our producers for their attendance and to the men who put up all the gazebos, without them we could not run the market, and for everybody who voted for us.”

The market is dedicated to promoting good quality food at fair prices. Producers sell meat, speciality pies, seasonal fruit and veg, cheese, bread, eggs, cakes, fudge, honey, chocolates, preserves, wild game, juices and plants.

The next one is on Sunday, March 30 on the Oval Lawns, Eastern Esplanade, from 10am to 1pm.

As well as winning as Kent Juice Producer of the Year, Little Stour Orchard also won the Ambient Class for its 10 Acre cider vinegar as well as picking up the award for the Best Kent Food Products for its cider vinegar.

The enterprise was also a finalist for the Best Kentish Cider.

Other finalists from Thanet were restaurants, Margate’s the Ambrette and Wyatt and Jones of Broadstairs, shortlisted for the Kent Restaurant of the Year title, Quex Barn, Birchington (Local Food Retailer of The Year), Fruits De Mer, Broadstairs (Fishmonger of The Year) and Gadds No 3, Ramsgate Brewery (Best Beer).

PiK organiser Stephanie Durling thanked the thousands of people who nominated, and voted for, their own favourite food and drink champions. Shortlists drawn up from the public vote then go before a panel of expert judges, who select the winners.

Ms Durling said: “The battle for first place amongst the finalists has been hard, with a really tough decision for our judges. The standard of products, produce, shops, pubs and restaurants is very high and Kent is firmly becoming established as a foody destination in the UK.”