FROM tiny tea rooms to high-end restaurants, the best of the region’s food businesses are to be celebrated in the annual Flavours of Herriot Country Awards.

Now in their seventh year, the popular awards recognise and reward the array of outstanding food and drink businesses from across the Richmondshire and Hambleton districts.

Last year’s awards saw a record number of entries and organisers are hoping to build on that success when the awards ceremony returns to The Garden Rooms at Tennants on November 30.

This year’s scheme sees two new categories added and the website renewed to make it easier for businesses to enter.

An awards spokesman said: “We have a refreshed web site, a smart new logo, and an easy to enter on-line entry form.

“We have two new categories this year, ‘Baked Product of the Year’ and ‘Afternoon Tea of the Year’, alongside our other ten categories, giving you even more choice, and something for every type of business. “And you can enter more than one category.

“We have been given so much support for Flavours Awards from so many, which reflects on the quality and standard of all the innovative businesses that enter.”

The judging panel will be chaired by Susie Brindley and the awards ceremony will be compered by BBC Radio York Presenter Elly Fiorentini.

The awards’ Principal Supporter this year is North Yorkshire County Council, with main sponsors Hambleton County Council and Richmondshire District Council.

There are also sponsors for each award category as well as an assortment of media partners and the support of The World of James Herriot.

The award categories are; Breakfast of the Year, Tea Room of the Year, Local Product of the Year Specialist Retailer of the Year, Afternoon Tea of the Year, Pub Food of the Year, Restaurant of the Year Baked Product of the Year, Cafe/Restaurant of the Year at a visitor attraction, Customer Service Team of the Year, Locally Produced Beer of the Year, Young Professional Chef or Catering Student of the Year and the

Reader’s Choice Award, sponsored by the Darlington and Stockton Times, for the public to vote for their favourite from the list of finalists when announced.

The entries are open from June 18, and the closing date is midnight on August 31.

The ceremony will run from 11am to 2.30pm at Tennants in Leyburn on November 30 and tickets go on sale when the finalists are announced.

To enter, fill in the form at flavoursofherriotcountryawards.com