Chefs, restaurants, cafes, pubs and producers nominated for county food and drink awards.

After weeks of deliberation, tastings, meetings and more, our expert panel of judges have delivered their verdicts, and the finalists in the Eat Suffolk Food and Drink Awards 2018 can now be revealed.

Spanning 11 categories (including Food Hero, to be announced at the ceremony), the awards are a celebration of excellence in the county’s food and drink industry. From small, family-run businesses and new start-ups, to established enterprises known nationwide, the great and the good of the local foodie scene are represented here.

Four finalists have been chosen for each category, and the winner for each will be crowned at a formal black tie dinner, taking place on April 30 at Wherstead Park – headquarters of award headline sponsor The East of England Co-op.

If you want to be front and centre at the event, tickets for the awards dinner (which includes a drinks reception and three course dinner with wine on the table) are still available from stephanie.griffin@archant.co.uk priced at £65 per person plus VAT.

Eat editor Charlotte Smith-Jarvis said: “We look forward with relish every year to these awards, which are a wonderful reflection of the county’s exemplary food and drink scene. Suffolk really does fly the flag for local, seasonal, homemade, artisanal produce, and we’re delighted once again to be supported by the East of England Co-op, which shares our values through its Sourced Locally scheme, now in its 11th year. We cannot wait to see who’ll win on the night but, of course, just by being finalists they’re all winners. Good luck to everyone!”

Best Restaurant

Sponsored by Bidfood

Finalists: The Unruly Pig, The Bildeston Crown, 1921 Angel Hill, Tuddenham Mill

Family Dining

Sponsored by Greshams

Finalists: Sail Loft, The Maybush Inn, The White Lion Hotel, Hollow Trees Farm Café

Pub of the Year

Sponsored by G+G Gallo

Finalists: The Fox Inn, The Dog (Grundisburgh), Arcade Street Tavern, The Eel’s Foot

Outstanding Customer Service

Sponsored by The Burgess Group

Finalists: 1921 Angel Hill, The Crown at Stoke By Nayland, Arcade Street Tavern, The Greyhound & Twenty One

Pride of Suffolk

Sponsored by Montage Communications

Finalists: Stokes Sauces, Adnams, Powters, Musk’s

Best Coffee/Tea Shop

Sponsored by Suffolk Magazine

Finalists: Applaud Coffee, G &Ts, The Weavers Tearoom, Twyfords

Field to Fork

Sponsored by Ashtons Legal

Finalists: Humdinger Produce, Heath Farm Suffolk, Truly Traceable Venison & Game Pies, Aldertree

Best Independent Food & Drink Retailer

Sponsored by Larking Gowen

Finalists: Willow Tree Farm Shop, Slate, Rolfes of Walsham, Fergusons Deli

Best Newcomer

Sponsored by The KBB Centre

Finalists: The Weeping Willow, ICE Cook School, Café and Cook Shop, The Café at Urban Jungle Suffolk, Bury St Edmunds Farmers’ Market

Chef of the Year

Sponsored by Jam Tartz

Finalists: Justin Kett (The Swan Lavenham), Chandramauli Dwivedi (The Turk’s Head), Luke Cornelius (The Angel Hotel), Dave Wall (The Unruly Pig).