After a weekend of foodie heaven, the cream of the city’s restaurants, bars pubs and food shops have been honoured at a glittering ceremony.

Brighton and Hove’s foodies gathered for the grand final of the annual Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival Awards.

More than 1,800 mem- bers of the public sent in 11,000 nominations to the judges who secret- shopped the top three in each category.

The award winners were announced to a packed Live Food Show on Hove Lawns last night.

They wrapped up a weekend of events including a Live Food Show featuring chefs from the city’s top restaurants and an extreme food challenge where diners tucked into bizarre food and drink from around the world.

Festival organiser Nick Mosley said: “It’s pleasing to see so many young, independent businesses featuring in the awards, with the likes of La Choza, The Troll’s Pantry and the Craft Beer Co rating highly in both the public nominations and our secret shopping.

“It really does go to show how vibrant our local food economy is, and that’s just what the festival and the awards are here to showcase, support and celebrate.”

The winners on the night were:

Best Bar/Pub Category
judged by Gary Peters (Brighton & Hove Jobs) and James Dempster (Cobb Healthcare)
GOLD The Lion & Lobster
SILVER Craft Beer Co 
BRONZE The Basketmakers

Best Café Category
judged by Hanna Neter & Dan Gasser (Juice FM)
GOLD Treacle & Co
SILVER The Laine Deli
BRONZE Moksha Caffè

Best Chain Retailer Category
judged by Soozie Campbell (Tourism Alliance) & Dave Moon-Watson (PHS Wastetech)
GOLD Bill’s
SILVER Waitrose
BRONZE Carluccio’s

Best Family Dining Venue Category
judged by Shoshana Plail (childfriendlybrighton.co.uk)
GOLD Breeze Brasserie
SILVER The Hove Kitchen
BRONZE The Coal Shed

Best Fish & Chips Category
judged by Mike Weatherley MP and James Dempster (Cobb Healthcare)
GOLD The Regency
SILVER Bankers
BRONZE Bardsleys

Food Hero Category
judged by Ryan Heal (Rockinghorse) & Nathalie Gomez de Vera (Brighton Visitor)
GOLD Ben & Pamela McKellar (Gingerman Restaurants)
SILVER Seb Cole (Boho Gelato)
BRONZE Paul Clark (The Troll’s Pantry)

Best Food Pub Category
judged by Adam Style (Style Accountants) & Mark Ansell (Brighton & Hove Independent)
GOLD The Foragers
SILVER The Ginger Pig
BRONZE The Lion & Lobster

Best Independent Retailer Category
judged by Caroline Williams (PHS Wastetech) & Sue Korman (Unique to Brighton)
GOLD Infinity Foods
SILVER Butlers Wine Cellar
BRONZE Boho Gelato

Best Newcomer Category
judged by John Keenan (The Argus)
GOLD La Choza
SILVER Bellota
BRONZE Betty La La’s

Best Restaurant Category
judged by Andrew Kay (Latest) & Nick Mosley (Brighton Visitor)
GOLD Terre á Terre
SILVER The Chilli Pickle
BRONZE The Coal Shed

Best Takeaway Category
judged by Ian MIller (Brighton & Hove Bus Company) & Angi Mariani (Latest)
GOLD The Chilli Pickle Canteen
SILVER Pizzaface
BRONZE The Troll’s Pantry

Best Sustainable Food Business Category
judged by Caroline Lucas MP & Jess Crocker (Brighton & Hove Food Partnership)
GOLD Moshimo
SILVER Terre á Terrre
BRONZE Infinity Foods Café

Special Recognition Award Category
judged by the Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival directors
GOLD Carla ter Maat, Drakes of Brighton