A family-run relish business in Ealing set up during lockdown has surprised themselves by receiving a gold star in the Great Taste Award 2021 for their chutney.

The Ealing Relish Company was started last year by 20-year Ealing resident Sue Hutt, with her partner Jim, and their pineapple date and chilli chutney has now received award-winning recognition.

Their future daughter-in-law, turned relish marketing assistant, Olivia, along with her fiancé Jack, were the original chutney taste testers.

"We just loved them," said Olivia. "It started with three chutneys, then we all thought, we've got to do something about this and see if anyone would actually buy them."

She added: "We are so happy about receiving the award and have had such a good local response, everyone is so passionate to help local business."

Sue had been running a successful catering company however her work had dried up due to lockdown, and Jim is a retired Ealing estate agent, turned avid cook.

During the first lockdown Jim decided to try his hand at making relish.

By March 2020 the business started.

Sue was able to use the connections she had built up in the area through her catering business and the company eventually set up stalls at local markets, including the Chiswick Cheese market and Ealing Dickens Yard.

Their smoky tomato chutney is now being used at the Honest Burger restaurant in Chiswick.

Since the pandemic has eased, Sue's catering company is back up and running but their weekends are now dedicated to chutney and relish making, with the weekdays seeing to the preparation of jars.

You can find their chutneys at local markets, online or through their Instagram account @theealingrelishcompany.