Southport has come together at the Your Southport Stars Awards to celebrate the ‘resilience’ of its local businesses in what has been a difficult year for the town – and the winners are now revealed. Tony McDonough reports

 

Southport BID chief executive Rachel Fitzgerald has paid tribute to the “resilience” of Southport’s business community as she revealed the winners of the Your Southport Stars Awards 2025.

During the last 12 months Southport has endured some of the most difficult times in its history. However, through adversity local people and businesses have come together and showed a determination to see their coastal town thrive.

Organiser of the Your Southport Stars Awards 2025, Southport BID, says it received a record number of entries for this year’s awards. In all 92 businesses and organisations were represented across 11 sector-specific categories.

In a departure from the usual awards format, most categories have not one but two winners. The business with the most public votes has received the People’s Choice Award.

The Business Leaders Award has been decided by a panel, honouring the businesses that have had an extraordinary year over the last 12 months.

There’s also the big prize of Business of the Year and the New Business of the Year award which celebrates recently established venues. Winners were revealed in front of a packed audience at The Grand on Tuesday evening.

 

 

Rachel said: “In the last few years Southport BID has been working with businesses, local leaders and countless members of the local community in an effort to start writing a new chapter for Southport.

“It is important we recognise the amazing past and heritage of the town and also utilise that history to reimagine our economy and look to define how Southport will evolve in the 21st century.

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“And there will always be challenges – the pandemic, the cost of living crisis and the tragic events of last summer – but I have been humbled at the strength and resilience we have shown and the collective desire to see our town prosper.

“The quality among the record number of awards entries we have received this year has been incredible. I congratulate every one of our winners and every single business that submitted their entry.”

Winners of the Your Southport Stars Awards 2025 are as follows:

 

National Retailer of the Year

Business Leaders Award: Specsavers

People’s Choice: Waterstones

Independent Retailer of the Year

Business Leaders Award: OmNom Zero Waste

People’s Choice: The Plant Room

Cafe or Coffee Shop of the Year

Business Leaders Award: Season Coffee Bar & Kitchen

People’s Choice: House of Ivy

Restaurant of the Year

Business Leaders Award: Tik Taco

People’s Choice: Volare

Pub, Bar or Club of the Year

Business Leaders Award: The Windmill

People’s Choice: The Windmill

Entertainment Venue of the Year

Business Leaders Award: Adventure Coast Southport

People’s Choice: The Atkinson

Health and Fitness Venue of the Year

Business Leaders Award: From the Block Fitness

People’s Choice: Victoria Health & Leisure Club

Beauty Business of the Year

Business Leaders Award: KDM Supplies

People’s Choice: LM Beauty

Hotel or Guest House of the Year

Business Leaders Award: The Bold Hotel

People’s Choice: The Vincent Hotel

Expert Service Business of the Year

Business Leaders Award: United Legal Assistance

People’s Choice: The Print Quarter Southport

Public Service of the Year

Business Leaders Award: Joint winners – Merseyside Police (Southport Neighbourhood Policing Team) and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service

People’s Choice: Merseyrail

Southport Innovation Award

The Engine Room

Special Recognition Award

Southport Community Sports

New Business of the Year (People’s Choice only) 

JT Akshaya Restaurant

Business of the Year (Voted for by the public)

Victoria Health & Leisure Club