Brighton’s only entirely publicly generated food and drink awards has returned for the fifth year.
The Brighton Restaurant Awards Vote Online (the BRAVOs) have become an integral part of the city’s independent food and drink calendar since launching in 2017. It’s the only entirely publicly generated food and drink awards, generating 16 top 20 destinations throughout Brighton, Hove and Sussex.
The BRAVOs launched on 10 February and runs for six weeks, with winners announced on 5 April. The first place winners in each category will receive one of the iconic BRAVO wooden trophies.
During the six-week voting period, the public is called upon to give their favourite venues a BRAVO. Voting is across 16 categories, including Brighton’s best restaurants, best Sunday lunch, best local. All voting is done through the website www.BrightonRestaurantAwards.co.uk where you can vote for as many or as few categories as you want, with only one vote for each category.
Nick Harvey, who set up the BRAVOs in 2017, said: “Now more than ever the local hospitality industry is in need of the spotlight that the BRAVOs provide. As a platform for a public vote we’re letting the local and independent businesses, who provide our city with much of its colour, know how much their hard work is valued. We’re delighted to be returning in 2022.”
The BRAVOs provide a level playing field with small venues just as capable of securing a top spot as those with big marketing budgets. Previous BRAVO winners include Starfish and Coffee in Hanover, (best brunch 2018, best cafe 2019 and 2020), The Real Junkfood Project (eat well for less, 2019 and 2020) among many others attest to the positive impact a BRAVO has on their business.
Paul Loman of The Real Junk Food Project and Gardner Cafe said: “Winning certainly improved our profile in the city. We find many more people have heard about us because of the BRAVO win.”
Donatello, who won 2020’s Family Friendly award adds: “We were absolutely delighted to learn we won the best family restaurant in the BRAVOs in 2020. We are one big family here at Donatello so knowing that the public voted and supported us in this category means so much. Our whole team were so grateful that you recognised their hard work, dedication and passion in creating a welcoming restaurant for all families.
“We would be truly honoured to receive this award once again. We really appreciate seeing generations of families return to us, whether it be for a Friday night dinner or celebrating various milestones. Whatever the occasion, we are so thankful to be a part of all of the beautiful family traditions at Donatello.”
After a year hiatus due to the uncertainty of future lockdowns, the BRAVOs return in 2022 bringing a much needed injection of excitement, camaraderie and friendly competition to the local food and drink scene. In 2020 over 31,000 votes were cast for over 400 venues.
See the BRAVO 2020 winners here
Eat, vote, win
During the six week voting period, the BRAVOs will also be running prize giveaways through their social media channels, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. These will include prizes donated by the category sponsors. At the end of the competition, one member of the voting public will be randomly selected to receive £200 to spend in a venue of their choice.
Vote for your: Best restaurant , Best afternoon tea, Best cafe, Best local, Best team, Best brunch, Best cocktails, Eat well for less, Most family friendly, Good to go, International cuisine, Plant champions, Best Sunday roast, Best of Sussex, Sustainable champion, Best Wine list by Thursday 24th March 2022, here: https://restaurantsbrighton.co.uk/brighton-restaurant-awards/.
