TWO Helensburgh restaurants are in the running to be crowned Scotland’s favourites after being nominated for national awards.

La Barca and Annaya’s have been shortlisted for prizes at the ninth annual Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality Awards, with the final taking place at the Merchant Square venue in Glasgow on Sunday, March 29.

After fighting off competition from more than 5,000 venues across the country the Burgh eateries are hoping to do the town proud by bringing home trophies in the best family bar/restaurant in the west and best Indian restaurant categories (Annaya’s) and best world cuisine (La Barca).

Previous winners from the area include The Wee Kelpie, which scooped best takeaway in 2014 and 2018, as well as La Barca, owned by Cara and Milan Nikolic, which has won in each of the last six years.

READ MORE: La Barca knocks hospitality awards for six with record-breaking win

Milan said: ”We are very excited that our customers have supported us and voted for us again to get to the final.

“Winning it six years in a row has been a massive achievement, and this is the last year we will enter this category.

"It would great to go out with seven wins to our name but if not we still hold the record for the most consecutive wins in any category.”

Mystery diners visited the West Clyde Street restaurant on Sunday to dine before revealing who they were.

READ MORE: Wee Kelpie wins Best Takeaway prize at 2018 hospitality awards

Manager Scott Sinclair said: “They thoroughly enjoyed it and were asking for recommendations for dishes and wine and where our produce came from. Hopefully we’ve done enough to bring the trophy home to Helensburgh for a seventh time.

“Win or lose, we’re looking forward to a well deserved, fun night out for the hardworking team and we are very grateful to our loyal customers for getting us there.”

In a post on their Facebook page, the owners of Annaya's, which picked up a trio of prizes at the third annual SPICE Awards in November, said: “This isn’t just a great day for Annaya’s but for both Helensburgh restaurants, proving that our food scene is one of the best in the country.”

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