BOSSES at an artisan gin company near Stourport says reaching the finals of Amazon's Rural Business Awards is a "real boost" after a tough year.

Vicars Gin, located on Oakhampton Estate in Dunley, will represent Worcestershire in the Best Rural Drink Business in this year’s finals later this month.

Vicars was established by the Crane family in 1827. The family, now seven generations on, continues to create artisan gin from Worcestershire soil.

The Oakhampton Estate currently farms in excess of 2,000 acres of fine, arable farmland. A small proportion of the land has recently diversified, and now produces coriander seed, orris root, and juniper.

The botanicals are produced in the woodland, which boasts its own ancient spring which supplies all necessary water.

Speaking ahead of the final, Naomi Joy, from Vicars, said: “It’s fantastic to be in running in this year’s Amazon-backed Rural Business Awards.

"Like many other businesses, we’ve faced a lot of testing times this past year so to have this acknowledgement is a real boost.”

This year, businesses had 13 categories they could enter, ranging from Best Rural Start-Up Business and Best Rural Diversification Project, through to Best Rural Professional Services Business and The Triumph Over Adversity Award.

Vicars is one of two Worcestershire businesses to reach the finals - OLPRO, a Worcester-based firm delivering outdoor leisure products, is up for the Best Rural Retail Business accolade.

Due to the impact of Covid-19, the 2021 finalists will attend an online ceremony where the overall winners in each category will be announced on February 25.

John Boumphrey, UK country manager at Amazon, said: "The Rural Business Awards is an excellent opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of rural businesses and we’re very proud to be sponsoring the awards, particularly during this challenging year.

“I would like to wish OLPRO and Vicars of Oakhampton Estate the best of luck ahead of the final.”