Warwickshire restaurants urged to enter food awards

Chef Lesley Waters is encouraging restaurants, pubs and other food businesses to enter the 2009 Coventry & Warwickshire Food & Drink Awards to send out a `positive message` about their business.

The annual awards, organised by Warwickshire County Council and supported by Advantage West Midlands, are open to all Coventry & Warwickshire businesses who either serve or produce food and drink.

Categories include Best Restaurant, Best Dining Pub/Inn, Best Restaurant/Cafe within a Visitor Attraction and Best Breakfast.

Waters officially opened the awards last month at the Food for Thought Industry Forum at the Macdonald Ansty Hall Hotel near Coventry where she created a number of dishes using produce from the region in front of 130 members of the hospitality industry.

Richard Drakeley, tourism development officer at Warwickshire County Council, said: “Despite the slow down in the economy, we know that many food and drink businesses have shown great dedication and hard work to pull through – and even succeed against the odds. Now more than ever, is the time to shine and send out a positive message about your business."

Five businesses per category will be shortlisted before the winners are announced at an awards dinner at Ardencote Manor Hotel on September 21.

The closing date for entries is June 30. To enter online and for more information visit www.foodanddrink2009.co.uk​.