Finalists named for Inverness City Centre Business Awards
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Dozens of city centre businesses are celebrating being named as finalists in a record breaking annual Inverness City Centre Business Awards.
The public had the chance to nominate enterprises they love in a series of categories highlighting the various aspects that make up the business community including bars, cafés, restaurants, shops and offices.
Organised by Inverness Business Improvement District (BID), people could nominate city centre firms then helped choose the finalists from a shortlist, with thousands of votes cast.
BID director Lorraine Bremner McBride said: "We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has taken the time to help us celebrate our city centre businesses. This year we have had the highest number of votes ever with over 6000 valid voting forms which have been checked and verified equating to over 70,000 individual votes which is phenomenal.
"Many congratulations to the businesses who have made the final, and knowing that it is the people who matter to them the most – their clients and customers – have decided they and their teams deserve the recognition makes it even more special."
Administration and marketing manager at BID, Margaret Laws, said: "We are really looking forward to seeing all our finalists and guests at the awards ceremony on November 6 at the Drumossie Hotel.
"It will be a night to remember and a celebration of the city centre as a whole. We are just glad it is the public who decide the final winners but to get to the top four is a great achievement.
"As a small thank you to all those who took the time to nominate or vote, BID will shortly be announcing the winners of our competition to win a £100 City Centre Gift Card so keep an eye on our Facebook page."
Steve Barron, managing director at Highland News & Media – which publishes the event's media partner The Inverness Courier, said: "The people behind the many brilliant businesses in our city centre deserve to be celebrated. They're frontline ambassadors for Inverness and have done such a good job welcoming the thousands of visitors who have enjoyed our city this summer. We're delighted to give our support as sponsors and will make sure a spotlight is shone on all of the winners."
See the full list of finalists below.
National retailer of the year
- Lush
- Marks & Spencer
- Primark
- Rituals
Independent retailer of the year
- Colin Campbell & Co
- Keepsakes
- Ness Music
- The Health Shop
Boutique or menswear retailer of the year
- Begg Shoes
- Cafferys
- Rouge Boutiques
- Slater Menswear
Connoisseurs choice award
- Hotel Chocolat
- Oil & Vinegar
- Story Chocolates
- The Malt Room
City centre restaurant of the year
- Café 1
- Coyote's
- Mangrove
- The Mustard Seed
City centre café of the year
- Girvans
- Good Craic Café
- Perk Coffee & Doughnuts
- Xoko
City centre takeaway of the year
- Harry Gow
- Lettuce Eat
- Miele's Gelateria
- Perk Coffee & Doughnuts
Health & wellbeing business of the year
- Boots Opticians
- Holland & Barrett
- Sleeping Beauty Salon
- Specsavers
Professional or business services award
- Home Sweet Home
- Inverness Badenoch and Strathspey Citizens Advice Bureau
- Macleod & MacCallum
- Munro & Noble
Hair & beauty salon of the year
- Rumours Boutique
- Shapes Blink & Brow
- The Head Gardener
- Timeless Salon
Local hospitality & tourism business of the year
- Judith Glue
- MacGregor's Bar
- The Highlander
- Triquerta Crafts
Creative or culture business of the year
- 2 Tone Tattoos
- Castle Gallery
- Inver Ink Tattoo Studio
- Leakey's Bookshop
Victorian Market business of the year
- Bad Girl Bakery
- Colin Campbell & Co
- Milk Bar
- The Redshank
Eastgate Centre business of the year
- H&M
- Hotel Chocolat
- Pandora
- Waterstones
Most loved city centre bar or pub
- Black Isle Bar
- Johnny Foxes
- The Gellions
- The Highlander
Most loved city centre business
- Girvans
- Miele's Gelateria
- Primark
- The Mustard Seed
People's choice for excellent customer service
- Good Craic Café
- Perk Coffee & Doughnuts
- The Mustard Seed
- Waterstones
Outstanding contribution to the city centre
- Begg Shoes
- Farm & Household Stores
- Marks & Spencer
- Panasonic and Euronics Centre
- William Morrison Jewellers
