Vote for your finalists in the Inverness City Centre Business Awards

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The shortlist for the Inverness City Centre Business Awards has now been announced.

Organised by Inverness BID, the annual awards are a celebration of local businesses that make a difference in the community.

Nominations of business are made by the public, and now it is up to the public once again to decide their favourite shops, bars, restaurants and coffees in the city.

Inverness BID administration and marketing manager Margaret Laws said: “It has been an incredible year for the city centre business awards so far.

“We have been so excited to see the widest ever range of businesses nominated from our national chains to our bespoke independents and across all areas and sectors with amazing feedback and comments recorded and so we can’t thank the public enough for being so engaged.

“In total, we received over double the nominations received in 2022 and we now have the shortlists for each category. Voting for the four finalists in each category who will attend the ceremony at the Drumossie Hotel on the November 6 has now opened.

“We need your final votes and to say thank you all those who take the time to help us celebrate the city centre’s favourites and finest have another chance to win a £100 City Centre Gift Card.”

The nominees are as follows:

National Retailer of the Year

1. Lush, High Street

2. Marks & Spencer, Eastgate

3. Pandora, Eastgate Centre

4. Poundland, High Street

5. Primark, Bridge Street

6. Quiz, Eastgate Centre

7. Rituals, Eastgate Centre

8. Sally Beauty, Church Street

Independent Retailer of the Year

1. Colin Campbell Jewellers, Victorian Market

2. Craigdon Mountain Sports, Academy Street

3. Judith Glue, Bridge Street

4. Keepsakes, High Street

5. Ness Music, Academy Street

6. Panasonic and Euronics Centre, Academy Street

7. The Health Shop, Baron Taylor Street

8. Triquerta Crafts, Victorian Market

Boutique or Menswear Retailer of the Year

1. Begg Shoes (Eastgate/Union Street)

2. Cafferys Designerwear, Eastgate Centre

3. Ginger Fashion, Victorian Market

4. La-Di-Da Fashion, Academy Street

5. Maggie Blyth, Post Office Avenue

6. Primo Menswear, Queensgate

7. Rouge Boutiques, Castle Street

8. Slaters, High Street

Connoisseurs Choice Award

1. Highland Whisky Shop, Castle Street

2. Hotel Chocolat, Eastgate Centre

3. Moonshine, Victorian Market

4. Oil & Vinegar, Union Street

5. Story Chocolates, Victorian Market

6. The Malt Room, Market Close

7. The Whisky Shop, Bridge Street

8. Woodwinters, Church Street

City Centre Restaurant of the Year

1. Café 1, Castle Street

2. Coyote’s, Bank Street

3. Fig & Thistle, Stephens Brae

4. La Tortilla Asesina, Castle Street

5. Love Dosa, Mealmarket Close

6. Mangrove, Academy Street

7. The Mustard Seed, Bank Street

8. The White House, Union Street

City Centre Café of the Year

1. Café Artysans, Strothers Lane

2. Comfort Foods, Church Street

3. Girvans, Stephens Brae

4. Good Craic Café, High Street

5. In the City Café, Eastgate Centre

6. Perk Coffee & Doughnuts, Church Street

7. Whisk Away, Queensgate

8. XOKO, Bridge Street

City Centre Takeaway of the Year

1. Comfort Foods, Church Street

2. Harry Gow, Union Street

3. Lettuce Eat, Stephens Brae

4. Mangrove, Academy Street

5. Miele’s Gelateria, Church Street

6. Perk Coffee & Doughnuts, Church Street

7. Starbucks, Rose Street

8. Subway, Falcon Square

Health &Wellbeing Business of the Year

1. Boots Opticians, Eastgate

2. Hall Opticians, Bow Court, Church Street

3. Holland & Barrett, Eastgate

4. Pure Podiatry, Market Brae Steps

5. Sleeping Beauty Salon, Margaret Street

6. Specsavers, High Street

7. The Therapy Suite, Church Street

8. Timeless Salon, Market Brae Steps

Hair & Beauty Salon or Barber Shop of the Year

1. Hair Therapy, Union Street

2. Icon Barbers, Church Street

3. JFH Design, Inglis Street

4. No Filter Lounge, Academy Street

5. Rumours Boutique, Union Street

6. Shapes Blink & Brow, Eastgate Centre

7. The Head Gardener, Church Street

8. Timeless Salon, Market Brae Steps

Professional or Business Services Award

1. 360 Architecture, Academy Street

2. Achieve Financial Planning, Academy Street

3. Adder Business Ltd, Bank Street

4. Frame Kennedy, High Street

5. Home Sweet Home, Bank Street

6. Inverness Badenoch & Strathspey Citizens Advice Bureau, Union Street

7. Macleod & MacCallum, Queensgate

8. Munro & Noble, Church Street

Creative or Culture Business of the Year Award

1. Castle Gallery, Castle Street

2. Extreme Tattoo & Piercing, Academy Street

3. Highland Hyacinth Fine Jewellery & Piercing, Lombard Street

4. Inver Ink Tattoo Studio, Margaret Street

5. Leakey’s Bookshop, Church Street

6. Ness Music, Academy Street

7. The Music Shop, Church Street

8. 2 Tone Tattoo, Castle Street

Local Hospitality or Tourism Business of the Year

1. Judith Glue, Bridge Street

2. MacGregor’s Bar, Academy Street

3. Murray Travel, Strothers Lane

4. Mercure Hotel, Bank Street

5. Pentahotel, Academy Street

6. Royal Highland Hotel, Academy Street

7. The Highlander, Church Street

8. Triquerta Crafts, Victorian Market

Victorian Market Business of the Year

1. Bad Girl Bakery

2. Café De Paulo

3. Colin Campbell

4. Milk Bar

5. Redshank

6. Salt N Fire

7. Story Chocolates

8. Triquerta Crafts

Eastgate Business of the Year

1. Clintons

2. H&M

3. Hotel Chocolat

4. Pandora

5. Quiz

6. Rituals

7. Shapes Blink & Brow

8. Waterstones

People’s Choice for Excellent customer service

1. Good Craic Café, High Street

2. Rituals, Eastgate Centre

3. Perk Coffee & Doughnuts, Church Street

4. Lush, High Street

5. Waterstones, Eastgate Centre

6. The Mustard Seed, Fraser Street

7. Rouge Boutiques, Castle Street

8. Panasonic and Euronics Centre, Academy Street

Most Loved City Centre Bar or Pub 2023

1. Black Isle Bar, Church Street

2. Jimmy Badgers, Church Street

3. Johnny Foxes, Bank Street

4. Lauders, Church Street

5. R&B’s, Queensgate

6. Scotch & Rye, Queensgate

7. The Gellions, Bridge Street

8. The Highlander, Church Street

Most Loved City Centre Business 2023

1. Comfort Foods, Church Street

2. Girvans, Eastgate

3. Lush, High Street

4. Macleod & MacCallum, Queensgate

5. Miele’s Gelateria, Church Street

6. The Mustard Seed, Fraser Street

7. Primark, Bridge Street

8. Slaters, High Street

Outstanding Contribution to the City Centre

1. Begg Shoes (Union Street)

2. Farm & Household, Millburn Road

3. Marks & Spencer, Eastgate

4. Macleod & MacCallum, Queensgate

5. Munro & Noble, Church Street

6. Panasonic and Euronics Centre, Academy Street

7. Ralph Crook, Castle Street

8. William Morrison Jewellers, Victorian Market

The annual awards have gained a reputation over the years as a prestigious platform to recognise and celebrate the outstanding range of city centre businesses. This year the categories have been expanded from 13 to 18, including special categories to recognise outstanding achievements.

Vote online or use the paper form in The Inverness Courier, which can be posted or dropped off to The Inverness Courier or Inverness BID offices.

Voting closes on October 20, at midnight. Winners will be named on November 6 at the Drumossie Hotel.

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