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ARCHIVE : NOMINATE NOW FOR YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD OR DRINK BUSINESS

People are being urged to share their favourite eatery or watering hole with the rest of Derbyshire by nominating it for a top award. Businesses are also being encouraged to get their application forms in for the prestigious 2008 Derbyshire Food and Drink Awards, organised by Derbyshire County Council.

Celebrity chef Brian Turner will present the awards with county council cabinet member for regeneration Councillor Geoff Carlile at Thornbridge Hall, Ashford-in-the-Water, on Thursday 25 September.

Customers wanting to nominate their favourite food and drink establishment should do so by Tuesday 1 July. Businesses must have their applications in to the council by Friday 25 July. You can download a nomination form here. (Requires Adobe Reader).

The awards are being sponsored by Derbyshire Life magazine, with other sponsors being the Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership and the Alliance SSP.

Entries are invited from any catering business serving locally produced food and drink and this year’s categories are:

• Restaurant of the Year
• Pub of the Year
• Bistro of the Year
• Coffee House of the Year
• Best International Restaurant
• Local Food Hero
• Best Restaurant within an Attraction.

Venues are judged on a number of criteria including the quality of food and drink, customer service and use of county produce with acknowledgement of it on its menus.
In each category there will be a winner and a highly commended, and there is a new award this year for Derbyshire’s best international restaurant.

The awards are judged by an independent panel of food specialists and once all the entries are in a shortlist will be drawn up. Each of the shortlisted venues will be visited secretly by one of the judges before the winners and runners-up are selected.

Councillor Carlile said: “We are committed to putting the county on the culinary map and holding the Derbyshire Food and Drink Awards for the seventh year reflects our commitment to this.
“The prestigious awards help to showcase the top quality produce and food establishments across Derbyshire and boost our local businesses and economy.”
He added: “Most people have their favourite eating place and we are asking them not to keep it to themselves and share it by putting it forward for one of our awards.”

For more information about the awards or to nominate a business by 1 July contact Derbyshire County Council international/tourism officer Steph Walsh on 01629 585964 or e-mail stephanie.walsh@derbyshire.gov.uk. Businesses can download an application form here. (Requires Adobe Reader).

Media enquiries only to Mandy Cann on 01629 585032 or e-mail
mandy.cann@derbyshire.gov.uk