ONLINE entries for the Sussex Food and Drink Awards 2019 are open for just a few more days.

Organisers are urging all the great Sussex food and drink businesses and members of the public to enter by October 24.

The Sussex Street Food of the Year category entries have already closed and the finals day will be held in Horsham Carfax on Sunday, October 21, from 10am until 4pm.

Sponsors of this category, Horsham District Foodies supported by Food Rocks, will be organising the competition and market day which offers free entrance to all members of the public.

To help decide on who to vote for, visitors can choose from an array of lunches from the top ten finalists who will be presenting their street food delights alongside some fantastic street entertainment and live music.

Chef Matt Gillan will lead the judging panel alongside Ian Swainson, head chef from The Pass at the South Lodge Hotel and Councillor Kate Rowbottom, deputy chairwoman of Horsham District Council.

Kate Rowbottom said: “We are very happy to support the Sussex Food Awards for the fourth year running with this hugely exciting and growing category of Street Food.

“Horsham is fortunate to have an abundance of artisan food and drink producers in the district and this event is very successful in promoting them to the general public.”

Finalists involved in this event include a global feast from Boca Loco in Arundel, ethically sourced global tacos from Box Trot in Worthing, Asian fusion dishes from Chu Chu Burmese Kitchen in Hove, vegan and vegetarian filled flat breads from Finbar’s Flatbreads in Chichester, slow roasted meats from Forgotten Cuts in Brighton, and Garlic Wood Events in Steyning.

There are homemade delights with sauces from Ginger Rookes in Horsham, pork dishes from the Pig and Jacket in Lewes, barbecued and smoked meats from Mann and Moore in Horsham, and home-made barbecued dishes from the BBQ project in St Leonards.

Sussex is blessed with a wealth of amazing food and drink producers and over the last 13 years the Sussex Food and Drink Awards have helped enormously to support and boost local farmers, food and drink producers and the outlets that use and sell this superb local fare.

Grand finalists from all ten categories will be invited to attend a Bafta-style ceremony on May 15, 2019, at the Amex Stadium in Brighton.

Winners will be revealed and guests will enjoy a seven-course Sussex produce banquet, hosted by awards patron Sally Gunnell and Danny Pike from BBC Sussex.

Visit www.sussexfoodawards.biz for more details.