Celebrity Chef Ainsley Harriott announced as host of 2014 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards
TV chef and presenter Ainsley Harriott has been confirmed as the host of Chesterfield’s 2014 Food and Drink Awards ceremony.
Ainsley hosted the inaugural Food and Drink Awards ceremony last year at Chesterfield College’s Heart Space Building and proved such a hit with guests that he has been invited back once more.
Commenting on the awards Ainsley said: “I am delighted to be involved with the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards once again. It was amazing to see the passion felt by everyone in the room on the night. The evening brought the hospitality community together. Everybody tells me the awards have also created a new standard in food in the town, which is very exciting.”
The Awards are organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with headline sponsor Chesterfield College whose students will also, once again, be catering the entire event.
Ainsley added: “It’s inspiring to hear that Chesterfield College is training the next generation of chefs.”
Destination Chesterfield Manager Dominic Stevens said: “We’re delighted Ainsley has once again agreed to host the awards ceremony. He was such a hit with the guests, winners and students, and helped make it a memorable night for everyone involved.”
Nominations across ten categories for the awards open in June and shortlisting will take place in August with the winners being crowned at the star-studded ceremony in October later this year.
This year there are more opportunities for food and drink producers to win with the introduction of two new categories – International Restaurant of the Year and the Family Friendly Award. There are 13 categories in total, including:
- Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council
- Café/Tea Room of the Year
- Gastro Pub of the Year
- Pub / Bar of the Year
- Best Newcomer – sponsored by Barber Harrison Platt
- Best Customer Service – sponsored by Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce
- Best Out of Town – sponsored by Northern Tea Merchants
- Chesterfield Food Producer
- Chef of the Year – sponsored by Banner Jones
- Young Chef of the Year
- International Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by BRM Solicitors
- Family Friendly Award – sponsored by Jumble Design
- Best Food Hero – sponsored by Chesterfield College
Other supporters of the awards include Franke Sissons, In the Works PR and the Derbyshire Times.
Voting is now open and can be done online atwww.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards. Alternatively, nomination forms can be picked up from food and drink outlets throughout the town.
A limited number of sponsorship opportunities still remain. If any businesses are interested in becoming a sponsor of the 2014 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards they should contact Dominic Stevens on 01246 207207 or email dom.stevens@chesterfield.co.uk.
Source:Destination Chesterfield
