The deadline for entries and nominations to the Suffolk Food and Drink Awards 2024 is fast approaching, but there’s still time to have your say on the county’s food and drink heroes. 

Suffolk has an outstanding reputation as a foodie hotspot, with several Michelin-starred restaurants and a host of passionate producers creating and growing delicious local fare. 

After the challenges faced by the industry over the past few years, the Suffolk Food and Drink Awards 2024 aim to champion the people across the county who are serving up amazing food and drink, shining a spotlight on their incredible achievements over the past 12 months. 

There are 11 fantastic awards up for grabs this year, covering a wide range of categories in the food sector from pubs and bars to restaurants, retailers and local producers. 

The categories are: Pub or Bar of the Year, Best Coffee Shop or Café, Restaurant of the Year, Best Suffolk Producer, Chef of the Year, Front of House Experience, Food and Drink Retailer of the Year, Best Newcomer, Street Food Vendor, Field to Fork and Food/Drink Experience.

There is also an Outstanding Achievement Award, which is a non-entry category, with a winner selected by the judges.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Woolpack won the Beer Quality Award. Pictured are Evie, Graham and Clare HindleThe Woolpack won the Beer Quality Award. Pictured are Evie, Graham and Clare Hindle (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown)
If you have a favourite food and drink establishment or producer anywhere in the county, be sure to have your say and get your nominations in before the deadline of January 7. 

Businesses and individuals can also nominate themselves, to recognise and celebrate their hard work in helping our county stand out. So, whether you’re a passionate local grower, a front of house manager, a foodie with a restaurant you love or you just want to shout about your favourite local coffee shop, get your entries and nominations in. 

Your nominated business or establishment could end up collecting an award on the big stage at the glittering award ceremony on April 29.

Once the entry deadline has passed, judging will then commence, with two judges per category going out to complete organised meetings, or unannounced visits. They will judge against set criteria to determine the finalists for each category.

The 2024 Suffolk Food & Drink Awards are brought to you by Suffolk magazine, in association with the East Anglian Daily Times, with headline sponsors, Thomas Ridley Foodservice, which is a great supporter of both the awards and of celebrating the food and drink sector in Suffolk. 

We would also like to thank our category sponsors including Pier, Suffolk New College, The Hotel Folk, The Visitor Economy Network Initiative, and beer partner, Woodfordes Brewery.

The winners will be announced at the 2024 Suffolk Food Awards event at Snape Maltings in Suffolk, on Monday, April 29.

The deadline for entries to the Suffolk Food and Drink Awards 2024 is Sunday, January 7, 2024. To view the full criteria and submit your entries and nominations, visit the awards website at suffolkfada.co.uk