Meet the regional finalists for the 2017 Countryside Alliance Awards

The finalists in the 2017 Countryside Alliance Awards (aka the Rural Oscars) have been announced, with businesses from across the country going head to head for a regional title and a shot at national glory.

The Awards are the Countryside Alliance's annual celebration of rural produce, skills, enterprise and heritage through our small hard-working businesses. They are now in their thirteenth year and have become the definitive rural business award to win. This year we received over 11,000 inspiring nominations, meaning these finalists truly are the best of the best. 30 regional champions, from five categories, will be invited to Parliament for the British finals, and in the presence of MPs and Ministers just five will be crowned British Champions.

The Awards are public-nomination led across five categories:

• Local Food & Drink
• Village Shop/ Post Office
• Butcher
• Rural Enterprise
• Pub (new this year)

To view this year's finalists please visit the awards page here.

Countryside Alliance Awards Director Sarah Lee commented: "This has been a record year for nominations, showing how much the public values and supports our hard-working rural businessmen and women. For these finalists to get this far is already an exceptional achievement and I look forward to meeting them as judging gets underway. The Rural Oscars were set up to champion those who go the extra mile for their communities and it is an honour to offer a voice to rural business in this way."