THERE is just over a week to submit your entry for this year's Hereford BID Business Awards 2017.

The awards are only open to members of the Hereford Business Improvement District and celebrate all that they do to make the city great.

There are 12 categories in the awards and the deadline for entries is on July 31.

We are asking Hereford BID members to nominate themselves for an award and it is easy to enter online- go to www.herefordtimes.com/hbidbusinessawards.

Cellar Door in Widemarsh Street is one of the contenders in the category of Hotel, Restaurant, Pub or Cafe of the Year.

Lauren Waring, at the age of 28, converted an old, almost derelict, empty retail outlet into a contemporary restaurant, bistro and bar.

She said: "This shop had been empty for almost three years and was a huge challenge to convert but its conversion has created a new and thriving independent eatery that Hereford was crying out for.

"My aim was to create a restaurant Hereford could be proud to call its own and that people could come to enjoy extraordinary food without travelling to another city."

The doors opened on April 30 last year and the restaurant has been receiving excellent reviews on Tripadvisor and at one point climbed to number 3 for the whole of Herefordshire.

Lauren said in her entry: "We are an independent that prides ourself on our use of seasonal, home grown, foraged and sustainable produce from local suppliers. This ethos is constantly getting stronger and more important to us."

She added: "After only having been open one year we have already gained a reputation for serving the finest food in Herefordshire. We will be striving in year two to get our first rosettes and we will continue to strive for more accolades with our use of foraged and homegrown ingredients."

Cellar Door employs 17 people and are just about to take on an apprentice.

Lauren said: "I train our staff to the highest standard and ensure it is their priority to be warm, friendly and attentive. We may be fine dining but our service style is modern and less stuffy than other fine dining establishments."

There are 10 other categories to enter and also a Special Recognition award. The ten other categories are: Business Services Provider; Independent Business; Customer Service; National Retailer; Best Presented; Outstanding Contribution; Putting Hereford City on the Map; Night Time Economy Business; Employee; and Employer.

To enter go to www.herefordtimes.com/hbidbusinessawards