THE finalists for an annual competition to find the best places to eat and drink in Derby have been revealed.

Short lists have been drawn up for the various categories in this year's Derby Food and Drink Awards.

Now in their second year, they are backed by Derby City Council, City Centre Management Derby, Marketing Derby, Derby College and the Cathedral Quarter.

The competition aims to recognise and celebrate the best pubs, restaurants and cafes in the city.

For the inaugural 2009 awards there were six categories. This year there are ten, including the coveted Restaurant Of The Year award.

The Best International Restaurant category from 2009 has been broken down into three separate categories – Best European, Indian and Oriental restaurant.

An award celebrating the best place to eat "out of town" has also been added, as well as a category acknowledging customer service. There are three finalists per category who will now be visited by a panel of mystery customers.

The ultimate accolade, Derby Restaurant Of The Year, will be decided following visits from judges from the AA's restaurant guide.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at Derby College's Roundhouse campus at Pride Park on Monday, October 11.

All the restaurants, pubs and cafes, were short-listed thanks to nominations from the public.

Among the first-time nominees for this year's awards is Marmalade and Tea, in Borrowash, which has been nominated in the Best Out Of Town Restaurant category.

For owner Sam Whitworth it is particularly gratifying as she only started the business in May after leaving her job as a marketing manager at Derby City Council where she had been for ten years.

Her business sells home-made sandwiches, soups and cakes. Customers can eat in or order takeaways.

Sam said: "I'd always dreamed about opening my own coffee shop. Being nominated for this award really vindicates the decision to go for it.

"The fact that the award is nominated by the public makes it all the more gratifying because it lets us know that we're doing something right."

The winner of the Restaurant Of The Year title at last year's awards was Darley's, in Darley Abbey. This year it has been nominated again for the award, as well as the Best Customer Service category.

Co-owner Kathryn Hobson said: "To win last year was a great honour and we're delighted to be nominated once again. We're particularly pleased to be nominated in the customer service category because we work very hard to train our staff. It's an award which recognises everyone's efforts."

John Forkin, director of Marketing Derby, said: "We were overwhelmed by the number of nominations submitted and the quality.

"Food and drink is a growing sector in Derby despite the current economic circumstances."