And the winners are... the rural oscars set to return

THE Countryside Alliance Awards - known as the ‘Rural Oscars’ - are returning for their 14th year.

Thousands of nominations will be submitted to recognised skills and produce, tradition, enterprise, and the people behind the businesses will be judged. And from those the champions will be crowned.

The Awards are the Countryside Alliance’s annual celebration of British food and farming, enterprise and heritage through small, hardworking businesses.

They are set apart from other award schemes because they are driven by public nomination, offering customers the chance to tell us why their favourite businesses are worthy of national acclaim.

Judges will not just be looking for evidence of great produce, customer service and innovation, but stories of how businesses serve their communities.

The categories for nomination are Local Food & Drink; Village Shop/ Post Office; Butcher; Rural Enterprise; Pub.

Countryside Alliance awards director Sarah Lee said: “These awards are a fantastic way to applaud our rural businesses for all the hard work that they do to help keep our local communities alive.

“It is such an honour to be able to recognise the rural businesses that represent the best in Britain’s entrepreneurial spirit and who do a great job to promote our beautiful countryside.

“I would urge everyone who wants to support their local businesses and communities to nominate them and give them the boost they so richly deserve.”

Nominations are now open and will close on December 9 with regional champions announced in May 2019.

The final will then be held in June 2019 at the House of Lords.