THE cream of Cumbria's food industry is waiting on tenterhooks ahead of a prestigious award night tomorrow.

Businesses across the county who have won their way through to the final of the annual Food Awards England competition will find out if they have won at a glittering event at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel.

The crème de la crème of the English food industry will gather to hear the results including the Samling Hotel, Windermere and Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel, Ullswater who are both shortlisted in the Hotel Restaurant of the Year category.

The Samling's Nick Edgar has also been singled out for Chef of the Year prize.

L'Enclume in Cartmel, south Cumbria, is a finalist in the Fine Dining of the Year section while Cockermouth-based Caterite Foodservice is in the running for Fresh Produce Provider of the Year Award.

The awards seek to recognise the hard work and efforts of the English food industry. Accolades will be presented to the best restaurants, takeaways, pubs, hotel restaurants, cafes and bistros, as well as shine the spotlight on the local producers who supply their ingredients.

Irfan Younis of event organisers Creative Oceanic said: “The tremendous amount of nominations received from the English public is a testament to the hard work of all those working within the food sector. With fierce competition this year, we are looking forward to welcoming those who provide and supply us with gastronomic delights.

“Last year’s winners were great ambassadors and I am confident this year’s finalists and winners will follow in their footsteps. We would like to wish all the finalists the best of luck.”