The public have decided who are the county’s top butchers and beer makers, restaurants and retailers, ahead of the Taste of Kent Awards 2015.

A shortlist of three in each of 11 categories has been revealed following a public vote on more than 550 businesses put forward for the annual gongs.

Each is hoping to be crowned a winner at a black tie dinner held at Kent Showground, Detling, in March.

The three finalists in each category will be judged by mystery shoppers and diners, or an expert judging panel to find Kent’s food and drink heroes.

Stephanie Durling, business development manager at Produced in Kent, who run the awards, said: “This year has again seen people voting in their thousands with the number of votes we received up by around 50%.

“We are delighted that the public is so enthusiastic to celebrate the very best Kent produce, and this year we received nominations for a record number of businesses.

“From all across the county, the people of Kent have chosen the tastes, flavours, products, produce and venues that they have enjoyed the most over the last 12 months.

“For the winners, the awards are the ultimate stamp of approval from their customers and confirmation of their food and drink excellence.”

Cripps partner James Beatton said: “We are proud to be the main sponsor of The Taste of Kent Awards again. It is great to see so many new entrants and such a large increase in votes.

“It is very clear that the awards continue to go from strength to strength, underlining the importance of the food and drink sector to this county.”

A series of other awards are given out on the night, including the Kent Food Product Category Awards, Kent Countryside Award, and Garden of England Champions for soft fruit and top fruit.

Tickets for the awards presentation dinner are available from Produced in Kent at www.tasteofkentawards.co.uk.

The finalists in each category are:

Kent Butcher or Meat Producer of the Year, sponsored by Stephens
Court Farm, Halling
MB Farms, Stockbury
Stour Valley Game, Chartham

Best Kentish Beer, sponsored by Rix & Kay Solicitors
Good Health – Goody Ales, Herne
Gadds No.3 – Ramsgate Brewery, Ramsgate
Whitstable Bay – Shepherd Neame, Faversham

Best Kentish Wine, sponsored by Investaco
Ortega – Biddenden Vineyard, Biddenden
Bacchus – Chapel Down, Tenterden
Balfour Brut – Hush Heath, Staplehurst

Best Kentish Cider or Perry, sponsored by Wilkins Kennedy FKC
Strong Kentish Cider – Biddenden Vineyard Biddenden
Cheery Old Dudda – Duddas Tun, Doddington
Wise Owl Cider – Wise Owl Cider, Ashford

Best Kent Juice Producer, sponsored by Kent County Council
Chegworth, Harrietsham
Juice Executive, Maidstone
Pine Trees, Doddington

Kent Local Food Retailer of the Year, sponsored by Opies
Macknade Fine Foods, Faversham
Monty’s Greengrocer, Birchington
Peters Produce, Herne Bay

Kent Fishmonger of the Year, sponsored by Chapman’s of Sevenoaks Ltd
Folkestone Trawlers, Folkestone
Hales & Moore, Rainham
Hudsons Fish, Herne Bay

Kent Food Producer of the Year, sponsored by Shopper Anonymous
Great Preservations, Tonbridge
Hotface Sauces, Maidstone
Kentish Pieman, New Romney

Kent Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Henkelman UK Ltd
The Ambrette, Margate
The Corner House, Minster
Wyatt & Jones, Broadstairs

Kent Dining Pub of the Year
The George Inn, Molash
The Kings Head, Wye
The Milk House, Sissinghurst

Kent Farmers Market of the Year, sponsored by Hadlow College
Aylesford
Capel-le-Ferne
Elm Court