A TYNEDALE drinks brewer has been named as the UK’s number one soft drinks brand in The Guild of Fine Food’s Best Brands Survey 2016-17.

Knocking Nestle-owned San Pellegrino off the top spot, Fentimans also faced fierce competition from Luscombe, Belvoir and Cawston Press to claim the title of the best soft drinks brand category in the annual survey.

Now in its sixth year, the survey asks buyers in delicatessens, farm shops and food halls around the UK to name their top-selling lines in a dozen categories.

The Hexham-based botanical brewer’s range of traditional craft beverages performed particularly well on both supermarket shelves and with independent stockists.

Fine Foods Digest, which analysed the results, cited Fentimans as a leader in championing heritage and traditional brewing methods.

Brexit was named as a factor in the 2016-17 rankings, with British brands dominating four of the top five spots on the soft drinks list.

Marketing director at Fentimans Andrew Jackson said: “We’re delighted to have been voted as the number one soft drinks brand in this prestigious list amongst so many of our industry peers.”