On Monday the 17th September it was the Time & Leisure, Food and Drink Awards 2012.

Ben’s Canteen had been nominated for Best Local Restaurant and were up against some awesome venues but we’re delighted to say that we won!

We’d like to thank everyone who voted for us and all of our lovely customers who choose to hang out with us up on St John’s Hill (in Battersea, just a few mins walk from Clapham Junction).

The award comes on the back of us recently celebrating our 1st birthday and is a lovely thing. We always hoped that if we created our alternative to a pub, that also does awesome brunches with top notch coffee, and made it relaxed and served up comforting food with a few twists, coupled with some interesting drinks that people would come. And not only come but enjoy what we’re doing and treat the venue as their canteen. A place where they can come on their own and enjoy banter with the staff or just do their own thing. A place where they can bring friends for a hungover or blowout brekkie, a simple dinner or celebrate special occasions in an informal atmosphere and space. And based on how busy we are of late, and this award, it’s seems that this vision is being realised – and for that we are very honoured. Thank you.

We’d also like to say a big thank you to the team at Ben’s Canteen, they do all the hard work and this award is recognition of that fact and the environment they create. All the weird and whacky things you hear about restaurants have probably happened since we opened but they’ve overcome them all!

We won’t be sitting back on this award, we’re going to use it as a spur to complete all the projects we have in the pipeline – look out for new menus and plenty of refurbs over the coming months. Good times.

Ben couldn’t be at the awards ceremony but rather than do a live video link up he sent his big Sis to pick up the award.