Kent Dining 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 restaurants, bistros, pubs, hotels and dining venues in Kent that have genuinely wowed you. The ones where the food is outstanding, the service is warm and you leave thinking "I need to bring everyone here." The venues that make a point of championing Kent produce - where you can taste the provenance in every dish.

We're looking for sit-down dining experiences where food is central to everything - from neighbourhood bistros and gastropubs to destination hotel restaurants and fine dining venues. To be eligible, venues must operate from a permanent premises open to the public for sit-down dining at least two days a week.

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

Think about places that:

• Use and celebrate Kent-grown and Kent-produced ingredients
• Deliver a consistently exceptional dining experience
• Offer great service and genuine hospitality
• Represent real value for what they deliver

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 seasonality of ingredients, skill and execution, service and hospitality, overall dining experience, commitment to Kent produce and value for money.