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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

‘Smiles Better Awards’ – winners announced

The winners of the Preston Business Improvement District (BID) ‘Smiles Better’ Awards were handed out at a sell-out ceremony at Preston’s Guild Hall on March 20th.

The competition, sponsored by Abbey Telecom, saw more than 200 nominations from businesses and individuals across the city centre, which were whittled down to 111 finalists.

Fourteen accolades were up for grabs, the winners of which were chosen through a public vote.

Mark Whittle from Preston BID said: “These awards are always hotly contested with healthy competition between nominees to secure the public vote – the city centre is awash with great people working in great businesses and its good to recognise and reward them; they are the reason people visit Preston.”

In addition to the fourteen award categories, the BID Special Recognition honour was awarded to Cllr. Peter Rankin, Leader of Preston City Council, by Babs Murphy Chief Executive of the NWL Chamber of Commerce – Cllr. Peter Kelly accepted the award on behalf of the leader.

Guild Hall saviour Simon Rigby MBE was announced as the ‘City Star’, winning the category in which the Fishergate Bollard was a popular finalist…

The awards, presented by BBC Radio Lancashire’s John Gillmore and radio favourite Danny Bee saw TV favourite Sherrie Hewson make a surprise guest appearance to hand out one of the awards and meet the winners.

Sherrie, who’s currently starring in TV favourite ‘Benidorm’, said: “It was great to be in Preston and share in the success of the winners and finalists – it was a fabulous night.”

Tony Raynor, Managing Director of Abbey Telecom said: “We were delighted to sponsor the ‘Smiles Better’ Awards for 2018, the ceremony showed how passionate and positive city centre businesses are. There was a great air of excitement in the room and the winners, and finalists, are to be applauded.”

A list of the winners is below:

RETAIL MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Presented by: Leigh Sweetman – Chair of Preston At Night

Winner: SUE DODWELL – GREGGS

 

INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Presented by: Andy Coverdale – Chair City Centre Business Crime Reduction Partnership

WINNER: TOWN HOUSE COFFEE AND BREW BAR

 

BAR OF THE YEAR

Presented by: Julie Stewart – City Centre Police Licensing Officer

WINNER: YATES

 

MULTIPLE RETAILER OF THE YEAR

Presented by: Samuel Whitear – Director, Business Lancashire

WINNER: ANN SUMMERS

 

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE IN A LEISURE BUSINESS

Presented by: Carley Stewart

WINNER: ALICE CORKE COSTA (St George’s)

 

LEISURE MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Presented by: Cllr. Peter Kelly – Cabinet Member for Leisure & Culture, Preston City Council

WINNER: DAVE BROWN – SWITCH

 

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR

Presented by: Nishma Hindocha – BBC Radio Lancashire

WINNER: TURTLE BAY

 

PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Presented by: Andy Neale – Preston At Night Co-Ordinator

WINNER: BRIAN HUDSON – YATES

 

PUB OF THE YEAR

Presented by: Iain Lynn – Lancashire Post

WINNER: TWELVE TELLERS

 

NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR

Presented by: Rob Charles, from Car Share

WINNER: THE WAREHOUSE

 

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE IN A RETAIL BUSINESS

Presented by: Tony Raynor – MD, Abbey Telecom, ‘Smiles Better’ Awards Sponsors

WINNER: SAM EAVES – ANN SUMMERS

 

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN RETAIL

Presented by: Stephanie Slater MBE – Paralympic Gold Medallist

WINNER: ANDREW STRINGER – ST GEORGE’S SHOPPING CENTRE

 

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVMENT IN IN LEISURE

Presented by: The Mayor of Preston, Cllr. Brian Rollo

WINNER: LISA BILLINGTON – THE WAREHOUSE

 

CITY STAR

Presented by: TV’s Sherrie Hewson

WINNER: SIMON RIGBY MBE

 

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD – PRESENTED TO CLLR. PETER RANKIN

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