Shortlist revealed for People's Choice category at The Oliver food and drink awards

For the second time, after introducing this as a new category for the first time last year, we asked you to nominate your favourite restaurant, cafe or pub and tell us why it was your People's Choice.

It could have been because you met your partner there, it is a family favourite for special occasions or simply because it is does good food and drink and makes for a great night out.

We received hundreds of nominations and suggestions and have whittled it down to a shortlist of six places - and now you can help decide the eventual winner which will be revealed on the night at The Oliver Awards' prize-giving ceremony, being held next month.

The shortlist is made up of Cha Lounge, an independent cafe near Leeds Dock; Fika North, a coffee shop in Headingley; Grumpy's Bar, a pizza restaurant in Farsley; Lupes Cantina, serving Mexican plates and cocktails in Burley; last year's winner Olive and Feta, a Mediterranean restaurant in Farsley and Santoni Osteria, an Italian restaurant near Keighley.

These six finalists will now be put to a text vote and readers will decide the winner.

YEP Editor Laura Collins said: "It is fantastic to see such an incredible number of nominations pour into us for our People's Choice Award.

"The sheer number of nominations - more than 200 - speaks volumes about how valued the Yorkshire Evening Post's Oliver Awards continue to the people, restaurants, bars and cafes of Leeds.

"The venues featured in our shortlist have been selected as standout performers by readers and we can't wait to reveal the winner at our ceremony next month, which promises to be an exciting evening."

How To Vote

Text your vote by starting your text with PEN (followed by space) EAT (followed by space) followed by the number of the restaurant you wish to vote for, exactly as it appears, then your name and email address, and send to 85100. Texts cost £1 per vote plus your standard network rate. For example, PEN EAT 1 Joe Bloggs [email protected]

Closing date for voting is MIDNIGHT Tuesday March 3, 2020.

1 Cha Lounge

2 Fika North

3 Grumpy's Bar & Wood Fired Pizza

4 Lupes Cantina

5 Olive & Feta

6 Santoni Osteria

The Oliver Awards

This will be the 12th year that the Yorkshire Evening Post has staged The Oliver Awards to celebrate and highlight what the Leeds food and drink scene has to offer. When the awards were set up in 2008, it was seen as a chance to tell the world about the flourishing Leeds dining scene which has since expanded way beyond anyone’s expectations.

There are 16 categories in total for 2020 and with the exception of the People's Choice vote, our panel of expert judges - made up of beer writer Simon Jenkins, food critic Amanda Wragg and consultant chef Steph Moon have had the mouth-watering task of deciding the winners.