TWO Helensburgh restaurants have made the finals in the Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality Awards.

This year's competition received more nominations and votes than ever before with 3,000 venues taking part.

The public voting closed at midnight on Sunday, March 12 and 120 venues have now been shortlisted including Helensburgh's La Barca Spanish Tapas and Wine Bar which has been shortlisted in the category of Best World Cuisine and Cattle and Creel, shortlisted as Best Newcomer.

It is now down to the individual venues to impress the secret judges currently touring the country.

La Barca have won their category three years in a row and hope to turn their hatric for Helensburgh into a fourth win this year.

Owner Cara Nikolic said: "It's a massive achievement to make the final again and the category is bigger than ever.

"Were up against nine prestigious restaurants from across the country so we just have to make sure we're on top of our game and deliver excellent food and service. We certainly know what they're looking for and we've got some new dishes lined up to wow the mystery judges."

Cara and husband Milan are also delighted Cattle and Creel has made the final of Scotland's Best Newcomer.

Organisers state the category features "fantastic venues which have made an impact on their community in a short space of time."

Cara added: "We're very proud of Cattle and Creel and the fantastic team there.

"We've had a great first year and are grateful to all our customers who voted for us this year.

"Cattle and Creel is now renowned for its fantastic Scottish seafood and steak and we're sure the judges will be blown away by it."

All the winners will be announced at the Gala Final in Glasgow's Merchant Square and awards CEO and founder Warren Paul is particularly excited for this years event which “reflects the huge growth in the industry over the last six years.

"The Entertainment and Hospitality Awards started in 2012 when the industry was still largely suffering from the recession; we wanted to create something that the industry could feel renewed excitement for, could strive for and could take real pride in winning.

"Six years in and our winners have gone from strength to strength, we have more venues than ever looking to compete, and have incredible support from both the industry and Scottish voting public.”

The Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality are also supporting their 2017 charity partner Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland, who they have supported for the last two years, raising over £50,000.