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The Cumbria Life Awards return for another year! People, places and positivity are embedded in every issue of Cumbria Life and in everything we do.

From the best arts and culture, tourist attractions and environmental projects, to the finest food and drink, and our ultimate accolade for Cumbrian of the Year, our awards celebrate the best across the broad scope of businesses and organisations that make our county the best to live in and visit.

What’s more, we’ve got some new and exciting categories for the 2026 Cumbria Life Awards. Crafted in Cumbria celebrates the best artisan producers and small studios andmakers whose work is rooted in heritage skills, authenticity, and traditional craftsmanship, while the Cumbria Life Design Award recognises excellence in the design and creation of spaces.

Supported by our headline sponsor H&H Insurance Brokers, a Cumbria Life Award is a mark of how highly each nominee is valued and a symbol of their outstanding contribution to the lives of those who live in and visit our county. They are the people and places who help to put Cumbria on the map; the local heroes who go above and beyond, achieve to the highest level and bring something unique to their sector.

Winning a Cumbria Life Award is valued by its recipients principally because it is our readers who nominate and ultimately choose the winners. So help us celebrate the cream of Cumbria by voting for your favourites from the shortlists below.

You can vote in one category, multiple categories or all categories, but choose carefully as you can only submit your vote(s) once per person or device. Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 9th August 2026.
Best Fine Dining Experience
Sponsored by Porsche Centre South Lakes
A chance for Cumbrian cuisine to shine! This award is open to any restaurant that counts itself in the fine dining category, whether offering a la carte or tasting menus. The winner will excel with their food quality, innovation, presentation and customer experience.
Best Casual Dining Experience/Street Food
Sponsored by Pioneer
This award showcases the various establishments that don’t count themselves as fine dining but deliver a first-class eating experience; where passion, creativity, quality of food, customer service and ambience excel. Entries may come from bistros, gastropubs and even food trucks within the county.
Best Café or Coffee Shop
Sponsored by The Garden at Eden
This category recognises a standout coffee establishment, that takes its caffeinated beverages super seriously; where a passion for the enjoyment of coffee is evident as soon as you walk through the door along with the quality food, including sweet treats.
Best Pub or Bar

Open to any establishment that sells drinks – a local pub, cocktail/wine bar or a tap room; this award will go to an outstanding recipient who values its customers, has quality drinks, a great atmosphere and passion for delivering an experience that stands out from the crowd.
Cumbria Life Design Award
Recognising excellence in the design and creation of spaces. This award celebrates studios delivering beautiful work that enhances how people live, work and experience places, from interiors and architecture to bespoke fitted elements and restorative building projects.
Best Arts/Culture Venue
Sponsored by University of Cumbria
This award is open to any business or organisation which showcases the arts, including theatres, cinemas, galleries and museums. We are looking for a venue with passion, innovation and dedication and is committed to promoting this sector in Cumbria.
Best Tourist Attraction
Sponsored by Thomson Hayton Winkley
The winner of this award could be a natural or built attraction that people visit for pleasure and/or interest. The winner of this award will deliver a truly memorable visitor experience and excel in every aspect of their business.
Best Environmental Project Award
Sponsored by Furness Building Society
Seeks to honour initiatives that contribute to environmental improvements and promote sustainable practices. Judges will evaluate projects based on their impact on advancing sustainability and those fostering a positive change benefiting the community and beyond.
Crafted in Cumbria Award
Sponsored by Grasmere Gingerbread
Celebrating the best Cumbrian producers, from artisan food and drink to bespoke jewellery and ceramics. This award honours small studios and makers whose work is rooted in heritage skills, authenticity, and traditional craftsmanship