Fly the FLAG
Competition is friendly but fierce for awards that saw more than 55,000 votes cast
SCOTLAND’S public have voted in their thousands in the fourth year of Scotland’s most contested hospitality awards.
This year saw more than 55,000 votes cast across the country as pizza and pasta enthusiasts supported their favourite eateries and businesses. Over 1,000 venues participated in this year’s awards, calling for support from their loyal customers and new fans alike.
The fierce voting campaign closed on midnight September 30 and finalists were calculated by the number of votes received in support. Old favourites and previous winners appear alongside lots of exciting new names across the 16 categories and from all across the country.
Glasgow’s historic Italian community is well represented, with finalists appearing in every category, clearly showing the ongoing commitment and love the city has for the community.
This year however they are joined by a strong Edinburgh presence and many ambitious ventures from the outlying areas, with finalists appearing as far north as Ellon and to the borders in North Berwick.
As usual, ENABLE Scotland is delighted to benefit from the night as being part of the Scottish Italian Awards gives it the chance to reach a far wider audience in its role of providing high-quality, personalised support for people with a learning disability and cam- paigning on the issues affecting people with a learning disability, as well as providing direct advice.
IMPRESSIVE LINEUP
Title partners Allied Irish Bank (GB)’s Director for Scotland, Billy MacLeod, says the list of nominees for this year’s awards is more impressive than ever: “This is a fascinating cross section of nominees this year,”
he said. “The competition is going to be really fierce.
“We congratulate every individual and team that has been nominated by their customers and wish each of them well.”
The Scottish edition of the Italian Awards follows a hugely successful second year in England that saw the number of participants double and big name winners in famed chef Gennaro Contaldo, winner of the first ever Italian Awards’ Ambassador’s Award and celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo, for his new venture in Manchester’s city centre Gino D’Acampo My Restaurant, which won Best Restaurant Over 50 Seats; North West Region.
Awards CEO and founder Warren Paul, is proud both of the growing success of the awards and the associated winners “It’s four years on from our first event and we are delighted that winners, competitors and supporters alike continue to fight so hard for the awards,” he said.
“The Italian community in Scotland is truly unique and we’re delighted with the continued dedication they show to both the awards and their customers.”