Kent Casual Food & Drink Experience of the Year

PLEASE NOTE: ALL NOMINATIONS REQUIRE APPROVAL BEFORE THEY APPEAR. IF YOU HAVE SUBMITTED A NOMINATION, IT WILL GO LIVE WITHIN 24 HOURS DURING MONDAY-FRIDAY WORKING HOURS.

Who should you vote for?

Think about the cafés, coffee shops, tea rooms and casual food spots in Kent that you find yourself going back to again and again. The ones with a genuine personality, brilliant food and drink, and a real commitment to sourcing locally. The places that feel like they're part of the community - not just passing through it.

We're looking for fixed-location casual venues where Kent produce features genuinely on the menu. Eligible businesses must operate from a consistent location at least two days a week or for at least six months of the year. This category doesn't include mobile traders who move between different markets or events each week. Venues must be open and trading during the judging period.

A nomination needs to be approved before it appears in the list -these are updated each working day.

Think about places that:

• Serve great quality food and drink with a local flavour
• Use and shout about Kent produce
• Offer a brilliant, welcoming customer experience
• Have a distinctive personality that makes them stand out

How does the judging work?

Your vote matters - but it's just the beginning. Once the public vote closes, the top ten venues are invited to submit further information about their use of Kent produce, local sourcing policy and commitment to the Kent food and drink community. An expert judging panel reviews both the public vote and the submissions to select three finalists. Those finalists are then mystery dined by professional researchers before a winner is chosen.

Judging criteria: Quality and consistency, creativity and distinctiveness, customer experience, service, use and promotion of Kent produce and value for money.