This award is focussed entirely on cafes/delis and what they offer. Judges will be looking for places which do their own thing but do it well, often offering bespoke dishes, with a slick, well-drilled operation. Scrumptiousness rules the roost here.

Leeds is home to great pubs and breweries and many invite customers to visit for a drinking and dining experience with a difference. We're looking for a pub or brewery which is serving great food that can be washed down by a fabulous variety of interesting beers.

Taking the city’s dining scene by storm and fast becoming the favourite meal for Leeds foodies - brunch is better than breakfast. This category looks for eateries serving up a feast from classic eggs benedict to bao buns or a staple full English - washed down with some fizz or fancy cocktail.

You get out what you put in and so the saying goes. So this category is a big shout out to those cooking up a feast fit for a king with ingredients they have sourced from Leeds market, the local butcher or foraged from a field or were. If it’s local and your customers love it, we want to know.

The Olivers have for a long time acknowledged the role bars play, not just in terms of providing liquid refreshments but also the occasional snack to go alongside. This award will highlight all those places which are going above and beyond to cater for a discerning, often diverse clientele. Judges will consider food, drink, atmosphere, service and value for money.

Leeds is leading the way with specialist cuisine. Whether that is saying loud and clear - vegan and vegetarian food is not boring, or making cooking with seafood a fine art. Are you serving up meat free meals with a tasty twist, flair and imagination? Then shout about it in this category.

No longer is it a case of having to sit in a cordoned off playpen with chips and chicken nuggets. The food and drink industry is encouraging families to make an evening out together and introduce youngsters to different types of dining so this is your chance to flag up the best family friendly places.

This is a brand new category for 2022. While it can’t be summer all year long, this award goes to a restaurant or bar in Leeds which offers a fabulous covered/outdoor seating area, that let you stay outdoors come rain or shine.

Never before has carbon footprint, protecting the earth and a sustainable way of life been more relevant. Here we are looking for establishments that are conscious of waste, sourcing ingredients and being eco, as well as, tastebud friendly too.

Service can make or break a restaurant and we know how much effort those in the industry put into making sure people not only enjoy their experience but want to return time after time. Judges will be looking for polished, assured performances from those front of house, who go above and beyond in terms of customer service.

This is always a popular category and one of the hardest to judge. Winners of this award usually go on to greater things. We aim to use it to celebrate all those restaurants which are trying to make a name for themselves by recognising the hard work and passion that goes into making their dreams a reality.

When it comes to ordering a takeaway in Leeds, there's plenty of choice. During the pandemic, some businesses may have had to diversify to offer delivery services whilst the hospitality industry was closed. This award goes to the best takeaway offering in the city.

The Leeds dining scene has changed in many ways over the years but perhaps one of the indicators of confidence in the market is the growth of fine dining establishments, which offer something special or unexpected to diners looking for a memorable night. Judges will also consider the depth, breadth and quality of the wine list in this category.

This award will be judged by our industry experts, who are already immersed in the dining scene, intimate with the ways in which it operates and the people whose ingenuity helps mark a restaurant out as inescapably important. This is one of our most prestigious awards.

We are looking for someone who has stood out as going above and beyond during these challenging times over the past 2 years. This award is a chance for us to single out someone special for praise, whether they have overcome some personal difficulty, helped others during the pandemic, or achieved something out of the ordinary. Anyone can nominate but the results are kept secret and only revealed on the night of the awards.

The ultimate accolade, all of the restaurants awarded at the ceremony will be eligible for winning the Restaurant of the Year title. This category is reserved for our headline sponsor and will be selected by our panel of professional, experienced independent judges.