The 2016 Rural Oscars - update

Thank you to everyone who nominated a business in the 2016 Rural Oscars - it has been a record year with over 7,500 nominations, meaning the shortlisting process has been very, very hard. The Rural Oscars are the Countryside Alliance's annual celebration of rural businesses, communities, food & farming, skills, heritage and enterprise. They are public-nomination led and shine a spotlight on the hard work and dynamism being used to meet the specific challenges of doing business, and keeping communities together, in the countryside.

We have now selected regional finalists across five regions (North, Midlands, East, South East, South West, Wales) in five categories*. Regional finalists have been written to and judging will commence in the New Year (earlier by appointment) with regional champions being declared in February. Those regional champions will go through to the Parliamentary final which will be held at the House of Lords in March. Good luck to all, and thanks for supporting rural businesses through our popular awards scheme.

*Our categories are:

• Local food/ drink


• Village Shop/ Post Office


• Farm Enterprise


• Tourism Enterprise


• Butcher