The rural Oscars: Britain's best village shop, butcher and farm revealed

Praising Ponsanooth Village Stores, Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: "Since the new shop and Post Office opened after a flood, Michelle has diversified the store from the very dull to a shop now described as "an Aladdin's cave of local gorgeousness".

"All things local are stocked, and hot drinks and pasties are also available to bring people together for a chat. The main draw is that for many village residents in this remote community, this store and Post Office are a lifeline.

"Michelle, with her partner Ben, don't stop working when the shop closes, caring for villagers if they are unwell and taking the phrase 'above and beyond the call of duty' as something of a job description."

Napton Village Shop in Warwickshire was highly commended, with judges describing the store as "a community hub that has been extended to include a huge amount of essential produce as well as gifts and local artisan products, with a friendly café area at the front where there is a small kitchen providing delicious sandwiches and home-made meals for local people and passing trade alike."

Lawns Farm Shop & Morthen Milk in South Yorkshire was named the champion in the Local Food and Drink category.

Bonner commended Lawns Farm Shop for its authenticity, traceability and sustainability: "This third generation farm really impressed the judges, not least by its location, close to two huge motorways, which can be seen from the farm.

"The 2014 crisis in milk prices necessitated many changes for what was then predominantly a dairy farm, but realising that if the cows were to continue to be at the farm, change was needed.

"Action was taken, first by opening a farm shop to sell locally produced food and setting up a dairy to produce, bottle and deliver their own milk locally.

"One fan put it well, saying: 'Farm shops do not get better than this. There will never be a supermarket purchase for my meat products again as long as Lawns are trading.'"

Foxholes Farm Shop in Hertford was all highly commended by the judges in the Local Food and Drink category: "Customers can eat exactly what is produced on-farm in the café, they can have confidence that the meat is high welfare and fully traceable.

"What is also appealing is that by shopping and eating at Foxholes you are buying into the proud heritage of a small family farm that uses its history as part of the story – from the photos and rosettes on the café walls to the top notch farming knowledge."

Pete the Meat in Worcestershire was named the champion in the Butcher category. The shop was described by the judges as "a force of nature" in the industry.

Bonner said: "Our champion feels very strongly - as we all do - that butchers have a duty to support the upcoming generation of butchers so these skills are not lost.

"The team breaks down carcasses on-site and makes, bakes & produces almost everything in the small shop. Our judges still speak enthusiastically about the pork pies with cider chutney and Colston Bassett cheese, which they described as 'supernatural'."

Suffolk's Lavenham Butcher was recommended by the judges and was described as "the heart and soul of their local community" representing "the best of rural Britain".

The Farm Enterprise category saw Hayley Hanson Hide in Wales come out on top to be named champion. Bonner said: "This category is dominated by feisty farming women and our champion is an energetic one-woman enterprise.

"Hayley uses local people, skills and resources, including a local engraver for hip flasks, Ludlow Bookbinders for diaries and notebooks etc. Hayley is community minded and keen to support organisations and groups, offering a percentage off goods for the local hunt and Young Farmers."

The Clarissa Dickson Wright legacy award was presented to Briddlesford Lodge Farm on the Isle of Wight for its work promoting food and farming while educating the next generation. 

The awards were presented by Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom MP who said: "Rural businesses are not just the beating heart of our countryside – they are also a vital part of the UK’s economy, generating almost £230 billion every year.

"I’m really pleased the Countryside Alliance is honouring some of these hard working businesses and ensuring they get the recognition they deserve. Today’s winners and nominees represent the very best of Rural Britain and I’m delighted to celebrate the crucial role our post offices, farm shops and food start-ups play in connecting communities across the country."

The regional champions

Village Shop/Post Office

• Ponsanooth Village Stores, Cornwall (OVERALL WINNER)
• Napton Village Stores, Post Office and Café, Warwickshire
• Spellows Village Shop & Post Office, North Yorkshire
• Pennard Stores, Swansea
• Ripe Village Stores, East Sussex
• Leadenham Teahouse, Lincolnshire

Local Food and Drink

• Lawns Farm Shop & Morthen Milk, South Yorkshire (OVERALL WINNER)
• Darts Farm, Devon
• Foxholes Farm Shop, Hertford 
• Hillers Farm Shop, Warwickshire
• Ludlow Food Centre, Shropshire
• Briddlesford Lodge Farm, Isle of Wight
• Pen-min-Cae Welsh Black Beef and Lamb, Powys

Butcher

• Pete the Meat, Worcestershire (OVERALL WINNER)
• Park Farm/Park Farm Butchers, Kent
• Penleigh Butchers, Somerset
• Lavenham Butchers, Suffolk
• Saddleback Farm Shop, West Berkshire
• Clarkes of Queniborough, Leicestershire
• Low Howgill Butchers & Deli, Cumbria
• Edwards of Conwy, Conwy

Farm Enterprise

• Hayley Hanson Hide, Wales (OVERALL WINNER)
• Brinkworth Dairy, Wiltshire
• Green Pastures, Norfolk
• Warner Edwards Distillery, Northamptonshire
• Incredible Farm, West Yorkshire
• Douglas Partners, East Sussex

Tourism Enterprise

• Bluebell Dairy, Derbyshire (OVERALL WINNER)
• Hillside Brewery, Gloucestershire
• Dairy Barns, Norfolk
• Bodenham Arboretum, Worcestershire
• The Llama Park, East Sussex
• Beverley Food Festival, East Yorkshire
• Pembrokeshire Falconry, Haverfordwest