Chesterfield News

Nominations open early for Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards

With the lighter nights and warmer weather now upon us, people are being urged to nominate their favourite restaurants, food producers, bars, cafes, pubs and tearooms in the 2016 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards.

Organised by Destination Chesterfield, the nominations have been opened earlier than usual to capitalise on the town’s recent warm weather, which is helping draw people into bars, restaurants and cafés in and around the town.

People can nominate eateries, hostelries and food producers based in Chesterfield as well as 10 miles out of town. Nominations are open now and can be made online across 10 categories in the popular awards, which return for the fourth year running. Nominations close at midnight on Monday 13 June 2016.

Everyone who nominates in the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards will be entered into a free prize draw for two tickets to the glittering awards ceremony later this year, which will be hosted by founder of Little Venice Cake Company, Mich Turner MBE.

Dominic Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager is now urging people to get nominating. He said: “This year we have brought the nominations forward to make the most of summer socialising – whether it’s a tasty meal or buzzing beer garden, or something special produced locally for your barbecue or picnic, we want to know.

“The success of the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards is all down to the general public and they haven’t let us down yet. Each year we get more and more nominations proving that we’re a town that appreciates good food and customer service. I hope people will get behind us once again and vote and help make the 2016 awards the best yet.”

Headline sponsor Chesterfield College, is once again hosting the glittering awards ceremony at its Heart Space Building. Its catering students will not only serve and prepare the two-course a la carte menu to more than 250 guests, but will also compete for the coveted Young Chef of the Year title in the awards. The winner of the title as well as those of all the awards will be crowned at the star-studded ceremony in October later this year.

Voting in the 10 categories is easy and can be done online at www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards

The 10 categories in which you can nominate in the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards include:

• Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council
• Café/Tea Room of the Year – sponsored by Kier
• Gastro Pub of the Year – sponsored by arvato
• Pub / Bar of the Year – sponsored by Custom Solar
• Best Newcomer – sponsored by BHP Accountants
• Best Customer Service – sponsored by East Midlands Chamber
• Best Out of Town (within 10 miles of Chesterfield) – presented by Chesterfield College
• Chesterfield Food Producer – sponsored by Casa Hotel
• International Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by MSE Hiller
• Family Friendly Award – sponsored by Jumble Design

Other supporters of the awards include the Derbyshire Times, Peak FM, Holdsworth Foods, Banner Jones Solicitors, the Crooked Spire Church, Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business AdvisorsCentral Technology Ltd, ra Information Systems, Black Eyed Susan and Reflections.

Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards 2015 with Theo Randall.

Tara Underhill

Senior Destination Chesterfield Coordinator

Email Tara