Brighton & Hove’s food and hospitality businesses gathered for the launch of the Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival ‘Autumn Harvest’ at Hotel du Vin on Thursday, and to discover the 36 finalists for this year’s Food Awards.

Between March and May, more than 1,800 members of the public submitted around 11,000 nominations across 12 categories.

The top three nominations in each category were then secret-shopped to strict criteria by 22 judges drawn from the worlds of food, media and politics.

The finalists are:

Best Bar/Pub

  • The Basketmakers
  • Craft Beer Co.
  • The Lion & Lobster

Best Café

  • The Laine Deli
  • Moksha Caffè
  • Treacle & Co Best

Chain Retailer

  • Bill’s
  • Carluccio’s
  • Waitrose

Best Family Dining Venue

  • Breeze Brasserie
  • The Coal Shed
  • The Hove Kitchen

Best Fish & Chips

  • Bankers
  • Bardsleys
  • The Regency

Food Hero

  • Paul Clark (The Troll’s Pantry)
  • Seb Cole (Boho Gelato)
  • Ben & Pamela McKellar (Gingerman Restaurants)

Best Food Pub

  • The Foragers
  • The Ginger Pig
  • The Lion & Lobster

Best Independent Retailer

  • Boho Gelato
  • Butlers Wine Cellar
  • Infinity Foods

Best Newcomer

  • Bellota
  • Betty La La’s
  • La Choza

Best Restaurant

  • The Chilli Pickle
  • The Coal Shed
  • Terre á Terre

Best Takeaway

  • The Chilli Pickle
  • Canteen Pizzaface
  • The Troll’s Pantry

Best Sustainable Food Business

  • Infinity Foods
  • Café Moshimo
  • Terre á Terrre

The grand dinal event takes place on Sunday, September 15 in the Live Food Show marquee on Hove Lawns.

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