‘The Best of The Bay’: Finalists Revealed For Inaugural Bay Living Awards
‘The Best of The Bay’: Finalists Revealed For Inaugural Bay Living Awards
The finalists for the very first Bay Living Awards ceremony have been announced today by our team of judges who have been carefully considering all the entries throughout the day at The Bay’s HQ.
The major awards evening will take place on September 7th at Lancaster University’s Great Hall, with hundreds of entries and nominations submitted and considered by our team of key local figures.
The ceremony will showcase the very best that businesses across The Bay have to offer Bay Living magazine readers and Bay Radio listeners.
Hosted by The Bay Radio’s breakfast presenter, Danny Matthews, 350 guests will be in attendance for what is sure to become the area’s biggest and best awards night with live coverage throughout.
Managing director of The Bay Radio Station, Bill Johnston, said: “Today has been a very busy day for the judging panel with more than 400 entries and nominations across the 24 categories.
“The finalists we’ve chosen are those stand out businesses across North Lancashire and South Cumbria who are the very best in their field. We look forward to welcoming them all to the awards evening on 7th September when we’ll announce the overall winners.
“It’s a great opportunity for all of our finalists to position themselves at the heart of the community, inspire their workforce, promote their values and civic identity and raise their brand and profile with our readers and listeners all at the same time.”
The evening will also feature lots of surprises together with live entertainment from popular local party band, ‘Sold to The Sky.’
The judging team comprised of Bill Johnston, Managing Director of The Bay Radio station & launch Chair of the Bay Living Awards; Phil Collier of Phil Collier Associates, Chair of the Furness Branch of the FSB, & Barrow’s BID Manager; Lynn Ison, Manager of the Marketgate Shopping Centre, Lancaster; and Nick Hood, organiser of the North West Hospitality Show.
Also on the panel, Vicky Lofthouse, Chief Executive of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce; Paul Cusimano, proprietor of Joseph & Co in Lancaster & the current Chair of Lancaster’s Business Improvement District; Chris Nelson, PR and marketing professional & Chair of the Ulverston BID board; and John O’Neill, Manager of the Lancaster & District Chamber of Commerce & the Manager of the Morecambe BID.
Joining them were Simon Craig, Chair of Barrow’s Business Improvement District & Manager of Marks & Spencer; and Daniel Morley, store Director of Beales in Kendal & Chair of Kendal’s Business Improvement District.
The full list of finalists is as follows:
Best Professional Service, sponsored by Lancaster and District Chamber Of Commerce
– Professional Help Ltd, Carnforth
– Harrison Pit Architects, Lancaster
– Reid Hamilton & Co, Lancaster
Best Restaurant, sponsored by Wilson’s Fresh Produce
– The Morecambe Hotel, Morecambe
– L’enclume, Cartmel
– Hipping Hall, Cowan Bridge
Best Customer Service, sponsored by Invest in South Lakeland
– Black Bear I.T. Solutions, Lancaster
– Reid Hamilton & Co, Lancaster
– Brew Me Sunshine, Morecambe
– Silver Tree Jewellery, Lancaster
Best Visitor Attraction or Event, sponsored by United Utilities
– Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
– Morecambe Carnival
– Carnforth Station Heritage Centre
Best Use Of Creativity, sponsored by Lancaster University
– Carolyn Walker from Carolyn’s Art in Lancaster
– Claire Tillotson at Hatch in Lancaster
– Cumbria Constabulary
Best Business Team, sponsored by Lancaster City Council
– Coco Hair and Beauty in Barrow
– Howson Interiors trading as Lakeland Kitchens in Kendal
– Wink Networking in Carnforth
Best Community Focus, sponsored by Holdens Solicitors
– North West Ambulance Service – Community First Responders
– CAMP Cumbria in Coniston
– Sustainability Morecambe
Apprentice Of The Year, sponsored by Lancaster and Morecambe College
– Rustom English from Net * Development Limited in Kendal
– Dan Rutherford from Logs Direct in Halton
– Emma Lund from Lancaster University
The Innovation Award, sponsored by Electricity North West
– Adrian Coates from Beetham Holiday Homes
– Stephenson’s Dairy in Morecambe
– CAMP Cumbria in Coniston
Small Independent Retailer, sponsored by Lancaster and District Chamber Of Commerce
– Little Beasties, Ulverston
– Begin With Nature, Kendal
– Silver Tree Jewellery, Lancaster
Best Coffee Shop or Café, sponsored by Wilson’s Fresh Produce
– Brew Me Sunshine in Morecambe
– Elaine’s Tea Room in Feizor, near Austwick
– Buccelli’s in Lancaster
Best Local Charity, sponsored by United Utilities
– Cancer Care at Slynedales
– Tigerlily Trust in Grange Over Sands
– North West Air Ambulance
Best Boss, sponsored by Holdens Solicitors
– Rebecca Rawlings, Women’s Community Matters, Barrow
– Annette Ritson, Net* Developments, Kendal
– Susan Robinson, Nanny Brow Luxury B&B, Ambleside
Best Celebration Venue, sponsored by Electricity North West
– Abbey House Hotel & Gardens, Barrow
– The Daffodil Hotel, Morecambe
– The Midland Hotel, Morecambe
The Entrepreneur Award, sponsored by Lancaster City Council
– Hydropaws in Morecambe
– Carolyn Walker from Carolyn’s Art in Lancaster
– David Unsworth in Cartmel
Employee Of The Year Award, sponsored by Invest in South Lakeland
– Joanne Nelson from Slate Bar in Kendal
– Rachael Wilkinson from Lancaster BID
– Michael Jones from Animal Care in Lancaster
Best Place To Stay (Hotel or B&B)
– Abbey House Hotel and Gardens in Barrow
– The Midland in Morecambe
– Nanny Brow Luxury B&B in Ambleside
Best Country Pub
– The Wild Boar at Crook
– Blacksmiths Arms
– The Silverdale Hotel
Best Town / City Pub or Bar
– The Sun Hotel and Bar in Lancaster
– Slate Bar in Kendal
– Masons Yard 24 in Kendal
Best Arts / Entertainment Venue
– The Dukes, Lancaster
– The Grand Theatre, Lancaster
– More Music, Morecambe
Best Hair Salon
– Cabello Hair Lounge, Carnforth
– Jo & Cass, Lancaster
– Daniel Gray Hair & Beauty, Kendal
Best Health and Fitness Centre
– 3-1-5 Health Club, Lancaster
– Bayfit Ltd, Morecambe
– MFKB Mauy Thai, Kendal
Best Beauty Business
– Bare Skin LTD in Morecambe
– Sue Shields Health & Beauty Studio in Carnforth
– Jo & Cass in Lancaster
Meanwhile, the Bay has been speaking to Associate sponsors Electricity North West and Lancaster University about what the awards mean to them and why they’re on board as key partners.
Professor Simon Guy, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Lancaster University, said: “Lancaster University is delighted to host and support the brand new Bay Living Awards 2017.
“Developing our excellent and fruitful links with the local community is always high on our list of priorities and these awards provide us with the perfect way for us to recognise and celebrate all the good things happening in this very vibrant and diverse community.”
Martin Deehan, Operations Director, of Electricity North West, commented: “As the region’s power network operator, our role goes beyond keeping the lights on across the North West.
“We are committed to serving the wonderful and passionate community of North Lancashire and South Cumbria in which many of our people work and live.
“We’re proud that it’s our network that connects communities and supports the success of local people and businesses which is why we’re delighted to be involved in the very first Bay Living Awards to help celebrate the best of The Bay.”
Other high profile sponsors have also seized the opportunity that The Bay Living Awards presents to the local community including Invest South Lakeland, Holdens Solicitors, Wilsons Fresh Produce, Lancaster & District Chamber of Commerce, Lancaster City Council, Lancaster & Morecambe College and Invest In South Lakeland, the economic development arm of South Lakes District Council
Susan Parsonage, City Council Chief Executive commented: “As a sponsor of the Bay Living Awards, Lancaster City Council is delighted to be part of an initiative which celebrates the accomplishments of businesses within the bay area.”
United Utilities are also one of three associate sponsors for the Bay Living Awards 2017, and their Area Stakeholder Manager, Steven Wong is looking forward to the event. He said: “United Utilities are proud to support the Bay Living Awards 2017. We are investing heavily in the Bay area across a number of multi million pound projects to help improve the quality of river water and sea water.”