DINERS across the city are being invited to nominate their favourite pubs, restaurants and cafes for Derby's prestigious Food and Drink Awards.
There are eight categories across the competition – now in its fifth year – including best newcomer, best pub, best bar, best out of town, best café, best international and restaurant of the year.
There is also the Derby Telegraph Excellence in Customer Service award up for grabs. Judges will be looking for an outstanding level of customer service with evidence of continuous staff training and customer feedback processes.
Members of the public, establishment owners and food and drink specialists are asked to submit nominations for each category.
Nominations have now opened and they will close on September 12.
A panel of judges will then review the submitted nomination forms for each category and a shortlist will be announced on September 19. The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony on October 21 at the Roundhouse.
Hayley Baddiley, owner of Zest – which won restaurant of the year and best customer service at the 2012 awards – said: "The awards are a recognition of all of the hard work we put in.
"I think it is great that people across Derby go out of their way to nominate different places."
The Exeter Arms in Exeter Place won best pub in last year's awards.
Landlady Denise Sage said that she and partner Martin Roper were delighted about their 2012 award.
She said: "We were really made up, as we had only taken over the pub six months previously.
"The awards are a great way to support local businesses and prove that there are good places to eat and drink in Derby and that it is not all fast food chains."
Kenny Siew, general manager of Japanese restaurant Moonsha, which received the best international award, said: "We were very proud that we were recognised in last year's awards.
"It proves that Japanese cuisine has been accepted in Derby.
"We hope that people will vote for us and support us again this year as we put in a lot of hard work."
John Forkin, Marketing Derby managing director, said: "The Derby Food and Drink Awards go from strength to strength and are now firmly established in Derby's awards calendar and are keenly awaited and hotly contested.
"Marketing Derby and Roundhouse Events are proud to co-ordinate these awards to help shine the light on the very best that Derby has to offer."
For more information and to make a nomination, visit www.derbyfoodanddrink awards.co.uk.
