Meet the finalists in this year's Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards
Organised by marketing campaign group Destination Chesterfield and sponsored by the Chesterfield College Group, the prestigious awards ceremony will return for its seventh year and recognise the very best in the town’s growing food and drink sector.
A total of 27 businesses have been shortlisted across nine categories, with Bottle & Thyme, Ciuri Ciuri Restaurant and Lombardi’s all hoping to take the top title - Restaurant of the Year.
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Hide AdThis year, seven of the businesses have been nominated for the first time and five will be defending their 2018 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards titles, including Bottle & Thyme which won the coveted Best Restaurant title.
As well as some of Chesterfield’s best-loved venues, three of the town’s newer businesses are also shortlisted - with Patisserie Valerie, Pig & Pump and Sorbo Lounge all recognised in the Best Newcomer category.
All shortlisted businesses have been nominated by members of the public and a panel of judges will now visit each shortlisted business to sample food, drinks and service.
Peter Swallow, chairman of Destination Chesterfield said: “It’s fantastic to see so many new businesses nominated this year, reflecting growth in the town’s food and drink sector.
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Hide Ad“Thank you to the people of Chesterfield for getting behind us in the nomination stage, helping us to recognise more businesses than ever in the 2019 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards.
“The competition gets stronger every year. Everyone that has been shortlisted in the awards must be congratulated for their commitment to high standards.”
The winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony at the Winding Wheel on October 23 and hosted by a soon-to-be announced celebrity chef.
THE FINALISTS ARE:
Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council
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Hide AdBottle & Thyme; Ciuri Ciuri Restaurant; Lombardi’s Restaurant
Cafe/Tea Room of the Year – sponsored by Kier Group
The Lilypad Café; H&F Vintage Tea Rooms; Qoozies
Gastro Pub of the Year – sponsored by Banner Jones Solicitors
The Market Pub; The Rectory; The Red Lion at Peak Edge Hotel
Pub/Bar of the Year
Pump & Grind; The Rose & Crown; The Three Horseshoes
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Hide AdChesterfield’s Best Newcomer – sponsored by BHP Chartered Accountants
Patisserie Valerie; Pig & Pump; Sorbo Lounge
Excellence in Customer Service – sponsored by East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire)
Bottle & Thyme; Junction Bar; The Lilypad Café
Best Out of Town – sponsored by Shorts Chartered Accountants
The Horse & Jockey, Wessington; Orangery Restaurant, Darley Dale; Southgate Brasserie, Van Dyk, Clowne
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Hide AdInternational Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by MSE Hiller
Cocina at Casa Hotel; Dehli 41; O-Tokuda
Family Friendly Award – sponsored by Jumble Creative Design
The Bulls Head, Holymoorside; Chesters; The Six Halts, Clay Cross
Conference Venue of the Year
Casa Hotel; Chatsworth House; Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa
A further five categories will be announced on the evening, including Food Producer, Young Chef, Food Hero, Apprentice of the Year and Apprentice Employer of the Year.
Other supporters of the awards include Apprentice Town (Led by Chesterfield Borough Council), Casa Hotel, Derbyshire Times, Distinctive Magic, Edge Events Management Ltd, Elder Way (Jomast Developments), FEAST – Food and Drink Forum, Hoods Florist, Learning Unlimited (The Chesterfield College Group), Magnifica, Owen Taylor & Sons, Peak FM, Reflections Magazine (Bannister Publications Ltd) and Vicar Lane Shopping Centre.
For more information about the 2019 Chesterfield food and Drink Awards visit https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards/.