The BRAVOs return to Brighton for their fourth year in February 2020. As the only entirely publicly voted for food and drink award, the BRAVOs generate 16 top 20 destinations for the public to visit. Last year 29,874 votes were cast, marking an increase of 10% on the previous year. More than 450 venues were voted for across the 16 categories, further proving that the BRAVOs are firmly established as part of the Brighton food and drink calendar.
The BRAVOs, which stand for Brighton Restaurant Awards Vote Online, are the only entirely publicly generated food and drink awards in the city, with social media playing a huge role in the influence and support of the restaurant industry. The awards give the public a chance to shout out about their favourite venues, as well as make a meaningful impact on the success of small businesses. Voting will take place once again at the dedicated hub.
Headline sponsorship from London’s premier food service: This year the BRAVOs headline sponsor is Woods Food Service who have recently set up their operation in Sussex. Woods Food Service is London’s premier food service company, and five-time winner of Restaurant Magazine Readers’ Choice Best Food Service Company; their arrival in the city is a reflection of the outstanding quality available in Brighton.
Nick Harvey, the founder of the BRAVOs, said, “We are delighted to have such a prestigious food service company as this year’s headline sponsor. Our local and independent food scene continues to go from strength to strength and offers incredible diversity and quality that really is comparable to that of London and other capital cities. The presence of Woods Food Service, whose customer base hold no less than 31 Michelin Stars, is a very positive sign for the local industry”.
Nick Harvey, owner of restaurantsbrighton.co.uk goes on to say: “The BRAVOs have proven themselves to be popular with the public and great for local business and we are excited to be back for our fourth year”.
The BRAVOs provide a level playing field with small venues just as capable of securing a top spot as those with a big marketing budget. Gemma Heath of lead sponsor, Woods Food Service said, “we are delighted to be part of the BRAVO 2020. The food scene in Brighton is championed by quality independent restaurants. As a family-run organisation, we are proud to be on the ground supporting the best talent in the city. With the various developments planned across the city, the new decade promises that Brighton’s food scene is only going to get stronger and we are excited to be part of the journey”.
Eat, Vote, Win with the BRAVOs.
Voting lasts for six weeks. At the end of the BRAVOs, one lucky member of the voting public will receive a prize of £200 to spend in their favourite Brighton venue. There will also be spot prizes given out through the six weeks, including generous donations from sponsors.
BRAVOs champion local business and community.
The BRAVOs have a proven success record in supporting local business and helping them succeed. Past winners have enjoyed year-long, free, promotion through Restaurants Brighton and being placed in a category can make a big difference to the turnover of a business.
New categories responding to trends in 2020.
The BRAVO categories continually evolve and respond to trends within the restaurant scene. In 2019 two new categories were introduced, Most Sustainable and Best International. The two categories that celebrated the city’s green ethos and diversity were well received and won, rather poetically, by one of Brighton’s most established restaurants, Moshimo (Most Sustainable), and one of its newest arrivals, Kujira (Best International).
For 2020 a Good To Go category has been introduced, reflective of the trend for people to want to treat themselves on the move, at the office or at home. The increase in smaller kitchen enterprises that do not have the facility to host guests is also on the up, as well as street food vendors who invest fully in the quality of their food without the high cost of rent impacting their price-point. “Gone are the days where an acceptable takeaway meal is the sort of thing you’d send back in a restaurant”, says Nick Harvey, “these days, people want restaurant-quality food delivered to their door”.
The Best Team category replaces Best Welcome in 2020, bringing the focus back to the idea of collaborative efforts and small independents where every team member’s actions contribute to a successful experience. Returning BRAVO sponsor Kathy Carton of Brighton Gin said of the awards, “As a Brighton born and bred business it means a huge amount to us when our customers take the time to let us know they value what we do and this, in essence, is what the BRAVOs deliver.”
If you want to support your favourite local food and drink destinations, have your say by voting from Monday 3 February at www.BrightonRestaurantAwards.co.uk. Voting will run for six weeks until Sunday 15 March, with winners being announced online Monday 30 March.
The 16 winners will receive the familiar BRAVO trophies made by local Social Enterprise, The Wood Store using sustainable, reclaimed timber with laser engraving by Heritage Inlay Design.
Nomination for the BRAVOs is free and open to all. If you are a local restaurant, cafe, pub or bar and are not featured on the BRAVO website, or know a venue, you would like to vote for please contact the team at hello@brightonrestaurantawards.co.uk
This 2020 16 BRAVO categories are featured here: https://restaurantsbrighton.co.uk/bravo-awards/.
