A SUFFOLK eatery has been honoured by an animal charity for its sustained efforts to ensure the food it serves has been ethically sourced.

The British Larder, in Bromeswell, near Woodbridge, has won the Independent Pubs Category of the RSPCA Good Food Business Awards 2012.

The venue has received a string of praise this year and the latest accolade comes hot off the heels of winning Best Food Pub of the Year 2012 in The Great British Pub Awards.

Chef Madalene Bonvini-Hamel, who runs The British Larder with Ross Pike, said: “We find that our customers are increasingly more interested in where their food comes from.

“So much so in fact, that our ‘field to fork’ dining events are always sold out. We are keen to encourage this interest.

“If more people were concerned about where their food came from, farmers and suppliers would have to ensure that animal husbandry standards conformed to higher welfare standards.”

Geoff Spriegel, RSPCA judge and independent food consultant, congratulated The British Larder for putting animal welfare at the heart of its business practice. “We have seen the tide turning in recent years, as better welfare food becomes more common and affordable,” he added.

The RSPCA Business Awards have been running since 2005 and recognise those in the food industry who promote animal welfare by sourcing ingredients in an ethical way.