Kenilworth hospitality businesses joined fellow finalists in the inaugural Coventry and Warwickshire Foodie Awards for an evening of celebration ahead of the winners being announced in just a few weeks.

Kenilworth finalists include Harringtons on the Hill, which is vying to be declared Restaurant of the Year, and the Virgins & Castle pub which is up for Pub or Bar of the Year.

Around 45 finalists from across Coventry and Warwickshire were hosted at the Telegraph Hotel ahead of the winners being announced at an event at The Box at Coventry's FarGo Village on Thursday, 22 July.

The event will be the culmination of a difficult 18 months for the hospitality industry and sees winners from a range of categories celebrated alongside their fellow finalists.

The Trussell Trust network of eight food banks in Coventry and Warwickshire will also benefit from money raised on the night.

It will come after the winner of the Best Chef/Cook category is judged by celebrity chef Glynn Purnell and his former employer Andreas Antona, owner of The Cross in Kenilworth, in a Masterchef-style cook-off at The Farm in Snitterfied on 13 July.

Final judging has also taken place for three special awards that recognise businesses and individuals who went above and beyond during the coronavirus pandemic - including a Covid-19 Resilience Award backed by Visit Coventry and The Godiva Award, sponsored by Coventry BID.

Co-organiser of The Foodies, Jonathan Smith, of Talk Business UK, said: "We first started planning these awards before the word Covid was even a thing so to be so close to seeing their culmination and celebrating the great entries we had in this very first awards programme is an exciting time.

"It was great getting all the finalists and supporters together and we look forward to another fabulous event in a few weeks."

The Foodie Awards 2021, in partnership with Visit Coventry and Warwickshire County Council, was established to recognise an array of food and drink businesses from producers to chefs, street food traders, restaurants and bars.

Categories include best artisan food and drink producers, best farm shop, best independent food and drink retailer, best newcomer and best street food trader, as well as best food/drink experience.

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