Nominations open for Food and Drink Festival Awards
Nominations are open for the St Albans Food and Drink Festival Awards 2019 – with 13 coveted titles on the menu.
You can put forward your favourite venues and producers with a public vote being held later this summer to create short-lists of potential winners.
The categories for the District-wide contest include best restaurant, pub, bar, takeaway, café, market stall, and family-friendly venue.
There is also the Kate D’Arcy Award for Customer Service, named in honour of a popular local restaurateur who died some years ago.
Businesses and individuals can make as many nominations as they wish up until Thursday 20 June.
All eligible nominees will then be subject to a public vote from Thursday 4 July to Sunday 4 August. The top three in each category will be put forward to the next stage.
This will involve a judging panel from the Festival Steering Group who will inspect the venues with surprise visits and tastings before deciding the winners.
The results will be announced at an awards presentation during this year’s Festival.
To nominate, go online to: www.enjoystalbans.com/eat-drink/food-and-drink-awards/.
The Food and Drink Festival, which has been running since 2007, is organised by St Albans City and District Council.
Councillor Mandy McNeil, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Business, Culture and Tourism, said:
St Albans, Harpenden and the rest of the District have a vibrant food and drink industry which is very important for our local economy.
The Festival is our way of showcasing the exceptional quality and variety of all our food and drink outlets.
We have a great deal of independent businesses and artisanal producers on our doorstep and the Festival helps to highlight and promote these businesses. It’s also one of the District’s most popular and exciting events, attracting many visitors to the City Centre.
I urge people to support their favourite food and drink businesses by nominating those who have really impressed them over the past year. It only takes a couple of minutes to go online and do so.
This year’s Festival runs Monday 23 September to Monday 7 October and includes dozens of events such as wine tastings and cookery demonstrations.
One of the highlights is the Street Feastival which is expected to attract more than 12,000 to the City Centre on Sunday 29 September. There will be more than 80 food and drink stalls, live music and other entertainment.
Another major event is the CAMRA Real Ale and Cider Festival which will be held at the Alban Arena from Wednesday 25 to Saturday 28 September.
The award categories are: Best Restaurant for a Special Occasion; Best Restaurant for Everyday Dining; Best Pub; Best Bar; Best Café; Best Local Producer; Best Food and Drink Shop; Best Market Stall; Best Takeaway; Best Place to Work On The Go; Most Family Friendly Venue; Best Newcomer; and the Kate D’Arcy Award for Customer Service.
Picture: Scene from last year’s Street Feastival.
Councillor contact:
Mandy McNeil,
Portfolio Holder for Business,
Culture and Tourism for St Albans City and District Council
Email: mandy.mcneil2@stalbans.gov.uk
Tel: 07854-198999.
Media contact:
John McJannet,
Principal Communications Officer,
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727-296130
Email: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.