More than 200 people attend the Your Southport Stars Awards ceremony where organiser Southport BID revealed the winners after more than 80,000 votes were cast. Tony McDonough reports
Southport BID businesses came out in force for the 2024 Your Southport Stars Awards.
Organised by Southport BID, this annual awards event celebrates the vital contribution and positive impact of Southport town centre businesses. More than 200 people attended the ceremony at The Grand in the town centre.
Businesses were invited to nominate themselves before a public vote saw more than 80,000 individual votes being cast across 11 categories.
The Vincent Hotel was the big winner on the night, taking home awards for Hotel or Guest House of the Year and Business of The Year (presented to the business with the most overall votes).
Techedia won the Southport Innovation Award went to Techedia. It was recognised for its work repurposing a former retail unit.
Lord Street in Bloom Volunteers were awarded this year’s Special Recognition Award, which honours a business or organisation that goes above and beyond for the benefit of Southport town centre.
Southport BID chief executive Rachel Fitzgerald said: “This year’s Your Southport Stars Awards were bigger and better than ever.
“The awards honour the incredible work of Southport BID businesses and highlight the diverse and vibrant business community that exists within our town centre. Once again, the public have shown their appreciation by voting in huge numbers.”
A new scheme, Southport Youth Pledge, was launched at the event. It will be delivered in partnership by Southport Education Group, Southport Learning Trust and Southport BID.
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Southport Youth Pledge will offer the platform for collaboration between education providers and Southport businesses.
In recognition of their ongoing commitment to young people, Techedia, Lattimer, and Fletchers Solicitors were each recognised with an Employer Accreditation Award. Your Southport Stars Awards 2024 winners and finalists:
National Retailer of the Year
Winner: Primark
Finalist: The Entertainer Toyshop
Independent Retailer of the Year
Winner: June the Florist
Finalist: The Plant Room
Restaurant of the Year
Winner: Volare
Finalist: Great Himalayas
Café or Coffee Shop of the Year
Winner: House of Ivy
Finalist: A Great Little Place
Pub, Bar or Club of the Year
Winner: Southport Market Bar
Finalist: The Windmill
Entertainment Venue of the Year
Winner: Southport Bijou Cinema
Finalist: Playtown Southport
Health and Fitness Venue of the Year
Winner: Victoria Health and Leisure Club
Finalist: The Dairy Holistic Hub
Beauty Business of the Year
Winner: LM Beauty
Finalist: Beauty HQ
Hotel or Guest House of the Year
Winner: The Vincent Hotel
Finalist: The Bold Hotel
Expert Services Business of the Year
Winner: Print Quarter
Finalist: Anthony James Estate Agents
Public Service of the Year
Winner: Merseyrail
Finalist: Merseyside Police – Southport Neighbourhood Policing Team
Southport Innovation Award
Winner: Techedia
Special Recognition Award
Winner: Lord Street in Bloom Garden Volunteers
New Business of the Year
Winner: The Plant Room
Business of the Year
Winner: The Vincent Hotel