SPEAK now or forever hold your peace. Last orders are about to be called on nominations for The Press Pub Awards 2009/10, as drinkers and landlords across the city battle to see if their local will be crowned a winner.

This is the first time we have run the awards since 1999, and competition has been fierce. Hundreds of nominations have been received across the seven categories, but with many people recommending the same pubs the list of candidates currently stands at 38 pubs and 12 landlords or landladies.

The deadline for nominations is tomorrow, so if you want to have your say, now’s the time. You can email your nominations to gavin.aitchison@thepress.co.uk or send them to Gavin Aitchison, The Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.

After all the nominations have been sorted, the judging will be carried out. A shortlist will be drawn up in early April and then the winners announced.

So far drinkers, landlords, locals and experts have all had their say, including several members of the York branch of drinkers’ lobby group Camra (Campaign for Real Ale).

Kevin Keaveny, the branch’s pub preservation officer, voted for a range of city and rural pubs in his nominations.

He proposed the George and Dragon at Chapel Haddlesley for best community pub; the Rook and Gaskill in Lawrence Street, York, as best real ale pub; Brigantes in Micklegate as best food pub; the Ferryboat in Thorganby as best outdoor area; the Black Swan in Peasholme Green in York for best entertainment; Jim Hardie at the Blue Bell in Fossgate as best landlord; and the Waggon And Horses in Lawrence Street as best overall pub.