Just one finalist place for Tunbridge Wells businesses in the Taste of Kent Awards 2012

Produced in Kent have announced the shortlisted finalists in the Taste of Kent Awards 2012, and it's lean pickings for Tunbridge Wells with only one local business making the grade.

Sankey's Fishmongers is a finalist in the Best Seafood Retailer category, and the three finalists in each of the 12 publicly voted categories below now have a nail-biting wait to hear if they will be lifting an award when they attend the gala awards dinner at Oakwood House Hotel, Maidstone, on Friday, March 2.

This year has seen a 20 per cent increase in votong by the public.

Produced in Kent manager Julie Monkman said: "The Taste of Kent Awards seeks to recognise and reward Kent's food and drink heroes. The awards have once again really captured the imagination of the general public and it's great to see the consumers of Kent voting in their thousands for their favourite restaurants, dining pubs and farmers' markets – as well as the food and drink producers behind the county's award-winning food and drink products.

"With everything from apple ketchup to sloe gin chocolates passing by the judging panel at the end of January, the team will certainly have their taste buds tested as they have to choose just one winner in each category."

The biggest increases in voting came in the Kent Restaurant of the Year category, which saw a 59 per cent increase in votes, and the Kent Local Food Retailer of the Year, which was up by a massive 78 per cent.

Now the three best in all 12 categories will come under the scrutiny of an expert panel of judges, mystery shoppers and diners.

To follow the progress of the awards visit www.tasteofkentawards.co.uk.

The finalists are:

Kent Meat Retailer of the year: Butcher of Brogdale, Faversham; Godmersham Game, Canterbury; JC Rook and Son, Ramsgate

Best Kentish Beer: 1606 Bitter - Old Forge Brewery, Ashford; Gadds No 3 - Ramsgate Brewery, Ramsgate; Master Brew - Shepherd Neame, Faversham

Best Kent Wine: Ortega 2010 - Biddenden Vineyards, Biddenden; English Rose - Chapel Down Winery, Tenterden; Vintage reserve Brut - Chapel Down Winery, Tenterden

Best Kent cider or perry: Appley Ever After - Big Three Cider, Hartley, Dartford; Biddenden Strong Kentish Cider - Biddenden Vineyards, Biddenden; Duddas Tun - Pine Trees Farm, Doddington

Best Kentish Fruit Juice: Apple juice - Biddenden Vineyards, Biddenden; Cox/Bramley apple juice - Core Fruit Products, Canterbury; Cox apple juice - Duskins, Canterbury

Kent local food retailer of the year: Hadlow College Farm Shop, Hadlow; Macknade Fine Foods, Faversham; Mama Feelgoods, Bekesbourne, Canterbury Kent

Seafood Retailer of the year: Eddie Gilberts, Ramsgate; Griggs of Hythe, Hythe; Sankey's Tunbridge Wells

Artisan food retailer of the year: Simply Ice Cream, Ashford; Taywell Ice Cream, Paddock Wood; Quex Foods, Birchington

Kent restaurant of the year: Elvey Farm, Pluckley; Marquis of Alkham, Alkham; Mulberry Tree, Boughton Monchelsea

Kent dining pub of the year: The Halfway House, Challock; Pearsons Arms by Richard Phillips, Whitstable; The Plough at Stalisfield Green, Faversham

Kent Farmers' Market of the Year: Cliftonville; Hildenborough; Shipbourne