Nottingham deli, café, wine merchant, play centre and pilates studio all up for 'best of the best' awards

Only the finest foodstuffs fill the shelves of a Nottingham deli earning it a place in the finals of national awards celebrating the 'best of the best' in England. Delilah Fine Foods, in Victoria Street, has been shortlisted for the Best Farmshop and Deli crown, together with four other businesses in London, Buckinghamshire, Kent and Rugby.

The Muddy Stilettos' awards recognise independent lifestyle businesses across 28 counties. Hoping to bring the crown back to Nottingham, Delilah's is a traditional and fiercely independent delicatessen housed in the grand high-ceilinged surroundings of a former bank.

Cheese, charcuterie, olives, wine, biscuits, chocolate, chutneys and other tempting treats fill the shelves - and maybe one of the most outstanding items of all is a cheese wedding cake. Complementing the deli is a cafe and food bar with seating for up to 70 and a menu revolving around products sold in the shop.

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Another finalist in the competition that attracted hundreds of entries is the Oat Shed, which is in the running for Best Café. The business in Main Street, Kimberley, has been hailed as "enchanting" and "amazing" in reviews and is particularly well known for its brunches, especially Turkish eggs.

Best Wine and Beer Specialist finalists include the Wine Bank in Southwell. As well as more than 500 wines from around the world, the wine merchant and bar also offers champagnes, whiskies and spirits, all carefully handpicked by the owners to give customers the best price and quality.

With 21 categories it isn't just food and drink businesses represented. Forest Folk Play in Hucknall Road, Sherwood, is vying for the title of Best Children's Business. Youngsters learn about traditional outdoor activities such as whittling, fire-lighting and using a variety of tools.

Also up for an accolade is Newark's Anasa Boutique Reformer Pilates, a contender in the Best Yoga/Pilates Studio category. Opening in 2023, it offers a full body workout in a low impact way at a studio in Slaughterhouse Lane.

The winners will be announced on July 11. The organisers said: "Choosing just 105 Muddy Stilettos national awards finalists from the 399 utterly fabulous regional winners has been so difficult. Over the last few weeks, our expert editorial team has pitched, deliberated and arm wrestled, but we are finally in agreement.

"They’re all incredible and worthy of a visit, so be sure to check them out and meet your local champions who have made it to the national stage."