Excitement is building ahead of The Food Awards England 2023, with four Norfolk restaurants in the running to be named the best in the country.

The ceremony takes place on Monday, October 9 in Birmingham and it will celebrate the food industry’s brightest stars.

It honours the exceptional talent, dedication and passion displayed by restaurants, chefs, eateries, suppliers and various food establishments across England.

READ MORE: All the Norfolk restaurants awarded 3 or 4 AA Rosettes for culinary excellence

Following a public nomination process, a diverse range of contenders were shortlisted across a range of categories. 

Watton & Swaffham Times: Scott and Kelly Dougal of the Wells Crab House celebrating their win at The Food Awards England 2022Scott and Kelly Dougal of the Wells Crab House celebrating their win at The Food Awards England 2022 (Image: Scott and Kelly Dougal)

READ MORE: Two huge food and drink festivals running in Norfolk this weekend

There are four establishments in Norfolk up for Restaurant of the Year, which are Wells Crab House in Wells-next-the-Sea, Benedicts and Jorge's Restaurant in Norwich and The Ingham Swan, near Stalham.

As well as an overall England award there will also be regional winners and in 2022 the east category champion was Benedicts.

Wells Crab House is also in the running for Best Seafood Establishment (Midlands), which it won in 2022, and Shelly's in Swaffham is shortlisted for Café/Bistro of the Year (East).