Feedback from a record 32,000 members of the public will underpin this year’s ESTAS ceremony, which will be held on May 9.

The public are the only judges of the awards: agents who register for the scheme are able to distribute forms to their sellers, buyers, landlords and tenants, who can then fill them in and return them directly to the ESTA organisers.

Simon Brown, who owns the ESTAS, said: “It is client feedback which determines who is shortlisted and ultimately who wins that makes the ESTAS so valuable for agencies. It takes a lot of commitment to enter these awards.”

The lunchtime ceremony will be the 11th ESTAS event and will once again by hosted by Phil Spencer. The sponsors, for a fifth year, are Zoopla.

To view the official shortlists go to http://www.theestas.com/shortlist/

To book tickets go to http://www.theestas.com/table-booking/