Four Thanet businesses have made it through to the finals of the Taste of Kent Awards.
Produced in Kent, which organises the awards, has revealed the top three from each category.
They will now enter the final stages in a bid to be crowned winners at the black-tie awards dinner on Thursday, March 8, at the Kent Events Centre.
For the first time in the 14-year history of the awards, there was a tie in the restaurant category so there are four restaurants being mystery dined this year.
Thanet finalists
The Thanet four are Gadds No 3 from Ramsgate Brewery in the Kent Beer of the Year section; Bessie’s tea Parlour in Broadstairs and The Chai Stop in Minster for Kent Food Producer and The Buoy & Oyster, Margate, for Kent Restaurant of the Year.
The awards have prompted a huge response from the people of Kent, who are responsible for nominating and voting for the finalists, demonstrating that Kent has a very vibrant food and drink sector.
Stephanie Durling, from Produced in Kent, said: “From all over the county, the people of Kent have chosen the flavours, products, produce and venues they have enjoyed the most over the last 12 months.
“For the winners, these awards are the ultimate accolade from their customers and confirmation of their food and drink excellence.”
The three finalists in each category will now go forward to be judged by independent mystery shoppers, mystery diners or expert judging panels to find Kent’s ultimate ‘food and drink heroes’.
The winners will be revealed at the awards dinner catered for by Jason Freedman from Curiously Kentish in Birchington and the drinks reception is sponsored by Synecore.
The finalists in alphabetical order:
Kent Beer of the Year, sponsored by Eurostar
Goodness Gracious Me IPA – Goody Ales
Gadds No.3 – Ramsgate Brewery
Reliant Robin – Rockin Robin Brewery
Kent Butcher Shop of the Year
S.W.Doughty – Doddington
Southborough Butchers – Tunbridge Wells
Stour Valley Game – Chilham
Kent Cider or Perry of the Year, sponsored by Wilkins Kennedy LLP
Elderflower Cider – Turners Cider – Marden
Kentish Discovery – Kentish Pip – Bekesbourne
Wise Owl Bittersweet Dry Still Cider – Wise Owl Cider – High Halden
Kent Food Producer of the Year, sponsored by Shopper Anonymous
Bessie’s Tea Parlour – Broadstairs
Sissinghurst Pigs – Sissinghurst
The Chai Stop – Minster
Kent Local Food Retailer of the Year, sponsored by Opies
Austens of Rochester – Rochester
Barham Village Store – Barham
Macknade Fine Foods – Faversham
Kent Tastiest Juice of the Year, AC Goatham & Son
Apple & Cherry Juice – Chegworth Valley – Maidstone
Apple Juice – Biddenden Vineyards – Biddenden
Spiced Apple Juice – Owlets Fruit Juice Lamberhurst
Kent Wine of the Year, sponsored by NFU Mutual
Bacchus – Chapel Down – Tenterden
Ortega – Biddenden Vineyards – Biddenden
Sparkling White – The Mount Vineyard – Shoreham (Sevenoaks)
Kent Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Thomson, Snell & Passmore
The Buoy & Oyster – Margate
The Carriage Restaurant – Faversham
The Corner House – Canterbury
The Mulberry Tree – Boughton Monchelsea
Kent Pub or Bistro of the Year, sponsored by University of Kent
The Ferry House Inn, Isle of Sheppey
The George Inn, Molash
The Hop & Huffkin, Sandwich
Other awards, not open for public voting, are:
Kent Food Product Classes, sponsored by Shepherd Neame
Best Kent Food Product of the Year, sponsored by HSBC
Kent Countryside Award, sponsored by Kent Downs and High Weald AONBs