VOTING starts tomorrow (Friday) for a four-week period to find out who the winners will be of the 2013 Chester & Cheshire Food and Drink Awards.

The Chronicle, in conjunction with the Chester Food Drink & Lifestyle Festival will again be looking for you to nominate your favourite establishment from across the county, in the categories that are most applicable.

Chairwoman of the festival, Jane Mooney, says that after 11 years the appetite of both the hospitality providers and the public is as strong as ever.

“Last year more than 2,400 votes were cast and we had yet another crop of outstanding nominations and winners, showing just how vibrant the hospitality scene is right across Cheshire.

“Every year the standard just gets higher and higher and even more competitive. I don’t envy our mystery diners who have to come up with this year’s winners.”

You are encouraged to vote for your favourite place in the appropriate category by going online to www.chesterfoodanddrink.co.uk and going to the voting page.

When voting finishes on February 28, we will name the four nominations in each category who will be mystery dined by a panel of industry judges.

These judges will then fill in a report on each venue, which becomes available to the venue, after the winners have been announced, showing how their business was judged.

The 2013 winners will be crowned at a glittering dinner on April 3 which will be held at the Pavilion at Chester Racecourse.

Tickets for this night are just £42.50 per person with a table of 10 costing just £375 and include a pre-dinner cocktail and a four course gala meal provided by Chester Race Company.

This is the one night of the year the hospitality industry, collectively lets its hair down and it is always one of the feature nights of the calendar.

For more information about the awards or to book tickets for the event, call Helen on 01244 405615.

The 2012 Chester Food and Drink Awards winners were as follows:

Local Produce Shop of the Year: Hawarden Farm Estate,

Family Friendly: Hickory’s,

Best Use Of Local Produce In A Menu: The Lord Binning,

Best Small Restaurant: Sticky Walnut

Best Sandwich: Panini Press,

Best Pub: Golden Groves,

Best Newcomer: The Chester Fields,

Best Large Restaurant: Restaurant 1539,

Best Deli: Hawarden Farm Estate

Best Café: Zugers,

Best Bar: Bar Lounge,

Excellence in customer care: The Hollies,

Chester’s Best Curry: Hoole Indian Take Away,

Chester Sausage of the Year: Andrew Vernon, The Hollies Butchers Shop,

Jameson’s Bar Tender of the Year: Li Armistead – The Red Door.