THE owners of a Heybridge smokehouse are cracking open the champagne after winning a Great British Food Award.

Darcy Lambton and Sean Jackson run Lambton & Jackson smokehouse, in Chigborough Road.

The pair endure weeks of nervous anticipation ahead of the awards after finding out their Maldon Deep smoked salmon was shortlisted for an award in the smoked fish category earlier in the summer.

The competition was judged by Financial Times restaurant critic, Tim Hayward who awarded the victory to Lambton & Jackson.

He said: “The Maldon Deep was a clear winner for me. It had a good, strong smoky flavour. They obviously tend to their smoker with great care.”

It is a fantastic achievement for Lambton & Jackson, which only started operating in 2014 but already supplies many high profile establishments including the two Michelin-starred restaurant of celebrity chef Marcus Wareing.

Mr Lambton said: “This award means so much.

“We were cautiously optimistic, but the result still came as a shock. We’ve been on cloud nine ever since.

“It is a wonderful accolade for the whole team especially when you bear in mind the competition we faced on the shortlist. But we know our Maldon Deep smoked salmon is a great product.”