High Street Awards announced

The winners of Hertford's High Street Awards were announced at a ceremony at the recently refurbished Corn Exchange on Tuesday night.

The High Street Awards are organised by Hertford Town Council to celebrate, support and recognise the array of businesses within the town and encourage residents to shop local.

Over a thousand votes were cast for people’s favourite Hertford retailers and businesses across ten categories.

The finalists in each of the ten categories were announced with runners up being asked to collect their certificate from the stage. Comments from the public relating to the winners were then read out before the winning businesses were invited onto the stage to receive their award from The Mayor.

A total of 63 businesses entered the awards competition, the finalists and winners were selected by a combination of public voting, and a judging panel made up of representatives the local community.

The following winners, runners up and finalists were announced:

Café or Fast Food Outlet
Winner – Hertford Cake Co.
Runner Up – Tilly’s Gelato
Finalists – Hertford Organic & The Wash BBQ House

Community and Voluntary
Winner – Courtyard Arts & Community Centre
Runner Up – Isabel Hospice Trading Ltd.
Finalists – Jedidiah UK & Scope

Fashion
Winner – Mint of Hertford
Runner Up - Frankie & Olive
Finalists –The Women’s Society Boutique & Magpie Amore

Food and Drink Retailer
Winner – Pickett’s of Hertford
Runner Up – Hertford Organic
Finalists – Hertford Cake Co. & 8 Parliament Square

Hair and Beauty
Winner – Tom Ashley
Runner Up – Fred & Ginger
Finalists – The Beauty Room and Blush Face & Body

Health and Wellbeing
Winner – The Beauty Room
Runner Up - The Secret Space
Finalists – Jedidiah UK & Classic Mobility

Pub, Restaurant or Bar
Winner – The Old Barge
Runner Up – The Hummingbird
Finalists – The Old Cross Tavern, Hertford House Hotel & Veg Heads

Professional Services
Winner – Hertford Post Office & UOE shop
Runner Up – Kids Connection
Finalists – SageWard Lettings & Abel of Hertford

Specialist Retailer
Winner – Gay’s Newsagents
Runner Up - Brothership
Finalists – Messages, Pickett’s of Hertford & Kids Connection

Home and Interiors
Winner – Messages
Runner Up – Magpie Amore
Finalists – Mark Wine Antiques, Snappy Snaps & Brothership

The Mayor of Hertford, Cllr Sue Barber, said: "The Hertford High Street Awards have once again highlighted the wealth and breadth of outstanding shops and services we have on our doorstep in Hertford. It was a joy to read so many hugely positive comments submitted by those voting, and there were some very difficult decisions to make on the winners. Shopping locally is vital to our town and the High Street Awards have confirmed how fortunate we are in Hertford to have so many fantastic local businesses."