THE CREAM of the city’s hospitality celebrated the grand finals of this year’s Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Awards last night.

Big winners of the night included restaurant 64 Degrees which won two awards hot on the heels of its Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition.

The celebrated restaurant in Meetinghouse Lane picked up best newcomer and the coveted best restaurant at the awards.

The Ginger Pig won best food pub, Terre à Terre won best family dining experience while Henry Butler of Butler’s Wine Cellar claimed won the title of food hero.

Best sustainable food business went to ethical supermarket hiSbe on York Place, and Twisted Lemon swept to success with best cocktail bar.

The special recognition award went to David Deaves of La Cave à Fromage for his long-standing support of the Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival and charitable work for the Rockinghorse Children’s Charity.

Best cafe went to Iydea, best shop went to Taj and best pub to The Basketmakers Arms.

Sussex Yoeman won best Sunday lunch, The Chilli Pickle Canteen won best takeaway and Burger Brothers won best burger.

During spring more than 2,500 members of the public nominated their favourite food and drink businesses.

The top three nominations in each category were passed to 26 judges who secret-shopped or interviewed the finalists, scoring each.

Nick Mosley, food festival director and awards co-ordinator, said: “2014 has been a great year for Brighton & Hove’s food and drink scene.

“With both the Chilli Pickle and 64 Degrees being awarded Michelin Bib Gourmands, and a host of recent openings such as Burger Brothers, Curry Leaf Café and hiSbe to name but a few, it’s a very exciting time to be eating and drinking here.

“All of our food award finalists really are at the top of their game, and they can all be very proud of what they are producing and the high esteem with which the public hold them. They are all winners.”

Brighton and Hove was voted number one restaurant and bar destination in the UK in the Conde Nast Traveller readers awards this summer, knocking London off the top spot.

AWARDS RESULTS

Best Burger Judged by Caraline Brown (Midnight Communications) and Alex Leith (Viva Brighton)

GOLD Burger Brothers, SILVER Trolls Pantry, BRONZE Grubbs

Best Café Judged by Rachel Horner (Rosemary E Hensby Solicitors) and Hanna Campbell (Juice)

GOLD Iydea, SILVER LangeLee’s, BRONZE Café Coho

Best Cocktail Bar Judged by Sarah Thompson (Blackdown Spirits) and Sam Harrington-Lowe (Absolute)

GOLD Twisted Lemon, SILVER Valentinos, BRONZE Merkaba

Best Family Dining Venue Judged by Sally Davis (Whizz Bang Pop) and Shoshana Plail (childfriendlybrighton.co.uk)

GOLD Terre á Terre, SILVER Food for Friends, JOINT BRONZE Sabai Thai Gastrobar and Breeze Brasserie (four finalists in this category due to a tie on third place nominations)

Best Food/Drink Shop Judged by Kate Goudy (Radio Cabs 204060) and Angi Mariani (Latest TV)

GOLD Taj, JOINT SILVER Butlers Wine Cellar and Infinity Foods store

Best Food Pub Judged by Nadia Cowdrey (Griffith Smith Farrington Webb LLP, Solicitors) and Mark Ansell (Brighton and Hove Independent)

GOLD The Ginger Pig, SILVER The Lion & Lobster, BRONZE The Prince George

Best Pub Judged by Bob Trimm (Harveys Brewery) and Susanna Forbes (Drink Britain)

GOLD The Basketmakers Arms, SILVER The Lion & Lobster, BRONZE Craft Beer Co.

Best Restaurant Judged by Mardi Roberts (Ridgeview Wine Estate) and Andrew Kay (Latest)

GOLD 64 Degrees, JOINT SILVER Food for Friends and Terre á Terre

Best Sunday Lunch Judged by Andrew Stenning (Searches UK) and Nick Harvey (Restaurants Brighton)

GOLD The Sussex Yeoman, SILVER The Lion & Lobster, BRONZE Food for Friends

Best Takeaway Judged by Stuart Slark (Southern Water) and Euan MacDonald (60 Second Reviews)

GOLD The Chilli Pickle Canteen, SILVER Iydea, BRONZE Pizzaface

Food Hero Judged by Gary Peters (brightonandhovejobs.com) and Sam Bilton (Sussex Style) GOLD Henry Butler (Butlers Wine Cellar), SILVER Michael Bremner (64 Degrees), BRONZE Seb Cole (Boho Gelato)

Newcomer Judged by Barry Carden (Cardens Accountants) and Duncan Hall (The Argus)

GOLD 64 Degrees, SILVER Curry Leaf Café, BRONZE Burger Brothers

Sustainable Food Business Judged by Adam Style (Style Accountants) and Andrew Cheesman (Brighton Visitor)

GOLD hiSbe, SILVER Terre á Terre, BRONZE Infinity Foods store

Special Recognition Award Judged by Clare Noble (PHS Group) and Nick Mosley (Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival)

WINNER David Deaves (La Cave à Fromage)