09 Aug 2024
The search continues for St Albans’ retail champions, those businesses which make a real difference to our city centre and beyond, and we want your nominations!
The St Albans Retailer of the Year Awards 2025 are brought to you by The Maltings Shopping Centre, the St Albans Times and Mix 92.6FM.
This week SADC confirmed that the popular St Albans Food and Drink Awards were not taking place, so we’ve added a new category for Restaurant of the Year.
Chris Traill, strategic director of community and place delivery said: “While there will be no Food and Drink Awards this year due to a combination of reduced funding available for events and less sponsorship income than in previous years, the ever-popular St Albans Food and Drink ‘Feastival’ event will take place on September 22 in St Albans city centre. St Peter’s Street and High Street will be closed for our big street party showcasing all the superb food and drink that St Albans district has to offer, with cooking demonstrations, music and family entertainment too.”
Maltings general manager Richard Marrett said: “We didn’t want to leave our popular eateries without any way of celebrating their achievements, so have included an additional category for Restaurant of the Year to ensure they have a chance to get the recognition they deserve.”
Categories:
- Market stall – Celebrating the rich mix of traders working rain, wind or shine at St Albans’ various markets, including the Charter Market, the Vintage Market, the Farmers’ Market and the Vegan Market.
- Independents – We want to recognise the single premises business which brings something different to St Albans’ retail footprint.
- Food and drink retailer – Whether it’s sinful cupcakes or locally produced spirits, Italian delicacies to festive hampers, we know our food and drink retailers have a loyal customer base who really won’t shop anywhere else. Now is the opportunity to tell more people why.
- Hair and beauty – This is a chance to sing about our salons, nail bars, barbers, skincare experts and everything in between. If their job is to make you look your best, then they’re worth nominating.
- Fashion and accessories – From hair clips to halternecks, jeans to jewellery, there is certainly no shortage of exciting and innovative fashion outlets in our city centre. But who is your favourite?
- Customer service – Who is the retail individual who always greets you by name, who keeps on smiling no matter how busy they are, and who makes your shopping experience just that extra bit special? We want to shine a spotlight on the city’s retail assistants, bar managers, restaurant serving staff and anyone else you believe deserves extra recognition.
- Entertainment and lifestyle – From travel agents to escape rooms, VR experiences to card shops, there are plenty of outlets whose job it is to give your life a certain sparkle. Let’s shout about them!
- NEW! Restaurant of the Year – We’re looking for the restaurant that stands out in a crowded marketplace, no matter the cuisine. It could be your choice for date night, a work lunch or breakfast with the family, but it has to have that special something which keeps you coming back time after time.
- Champion of the Year (selected from other winners).
To nominate your favourites, visit the dedicated website at https://mix926.com/retailer/
The winners will be revealed at a gala ceremony taking place in The Maltings Arts Theatre on Monday November 18. Further details of this exclusive event will be revealed closer to the time, but guests can expect bubbles, glamour, celebrations and food from one of our top local restaurants.
Terms and conditions
Eligible businesses must have been trading within the year ending June 30 2024, and located within a central area of the city of St Albans encompassing the A414 to the south, Beech Road to the north, the western end of George Street and Catherine Street, and Hatfield Road as far east as Oaklands College.
This includes areas like The Quadrant, Cell Barnes Road shops, New House Park and Albert Bygrave Retail Park, so don’t just focus on the city centre, we’re happy to accept entries from further afield.
Entrants must agree to media publicity and photos, and to appear in news stories after the ceremony.
The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
We’re also looking for individual sponsors for the different categories – if you’re interested please contact advertising@stalbanstimes.co.uk
