Voting is now open for Preston’s ‘Smiles Better Awards’ 2019.

Members of public can vote for their high street heroes with the awards taking place for the fourth year.

Last year saw the awards attract international media attention when the Fishergate Bollard was nominated for an award.

The 2018 awards attracted more than 200 nominees and 98,000 public votes.

The awards, staged by Preston Business Improvement District (BID) and sponsored by the NWL Chamber of Commerce, provide Preston‘s visitors with the chance to show their support for the city’s leisure and retail businesses by voting for them online.

Read more: Who won this year’s Smiles Better Awards 2018

BID Manager Mark Whittle said: “The awards are a great opportunity for city centre businesses to take the limelight.

“We have a vibrant city centre that continues to grow and improve, offering something for everyone.

“Whether people are coming for a shopping trip or a night out Preston remains a strong choice.”

“The city centre has a reputation for offering outstanding service and these awards are staged purely to recognise those businesses that excel by keeping Preston’s customers happy and returning time after time.

“We would encourage everyone to go online and vote for their favourite shops, leisure venues and people”.

Last year’s ceremony at The Guildhall saw former leader of Preston City Council, Peter Rankin, awarded the special recognition prize for his services to the city.

Over 300 guests were treated to dinner before the award’s ceremony followed by a special appearance from TV star Sherrie Hewson of Coronation Street, Benidorm and Carry On fame.

The 2019 competition sees 16 categories in which the public can vote, including a new category for Preston’s market traders.

Nominations were received from businesses and their employees throughout January.

The headline award, ‘special recognition’ will be awarded to an individual who has been synonymous with Preston having made a significant contribution to the city – this winner in this category will be decided by city stakeholders.

Babs Murphy, Chief Executive of the NWL Chamber of Commerce, sponsors of the Smiles Better Awards said: “The Smiles Better Awards play an important role in highlighting the amazing achievements of our city centre businesses and the people behind them.

“They have a lot to be proud of”.

Voting opens on February 1st and closes on February 28th at 5.00pm.

Votes can be cast online by visiting: SmilesBetterAwards.co.uk

The nominees

Bar of the Year

Forum

Kuckoo

1842

Roper Hall

Stratos

The Adelphi 

Glovers

Lofty’s

Ballers

Yates

Review

Hartleys

Perfect 10’s

Wings and Beer 

Northern Way 

Plau

Trinity

Rift

Voodoo

Club of the Year

Baluga

Evoque

The Warehouse

Blitz

The Dark Room 

Room 32

Switch

Popworld

Restaurant of the Year

EastZEast

Theatre Street Bar and Grill

Nineteen75

Nandos

Tino’s

Totos

The Otters Pocket

The Olive Tree Brasserie 

Fino Tapas

Angelos

Turtle Bay 

We Don’t Give A Fork 

Moka

The Cafe Bar

CoCos

Pizza Express

Heavenly Desserts

Palm Court

Bistrot Pierre

Pub of the Year

The Old Black Bull

The Adelphi 

The Black Horse

Ships & Giggles

Twelve Tellers

Hogarths

Dog & Partridge

Plug & Taps

The Wellington

The Stanley Arms

The Station Hotel

Greyfriars

The Market Tap

The Guild

Golden Cross

Guild Ale House

The Otters Pocket

The Orchard 

The Bears Paw

Barneys

New Britannia 

Personality of the Year

Brian Hudson – Tokyo Jo’s Reunion

Peter Alexander – Blitz 

Mark Freejack – Evoque 

Darren Ofsarnie – Switch 

Robin Kershaw – 1842

Andrew Forster – Loftys

Matthew Wood – Krispy Kreme 

Katie Clempson – Ann Summers

Luke Wilson – Baluga 

DJ Ben – The Warehouse

Leroy Allen – Beat Radio

Stacey Penney – Evoque

Alice Corke – Costa (Debenhams)

Aaron P – Ships & Giggles 

Peter Alexander – Blitz 

Cllr. Peter Kelly – Preston City Council 

Scott Galpin – Yates 

Paul Harrison – Room 32

Richard Tyson – Yates

Event of the Year

Alice in Disco Wonderland – 1842

Clock Switch On – Bistrot Pierre 

Student Session – St George’s 

Halloween – Switch 

Sean Kingston – Switch 

Evanfest – Ships n Giggles 

Record Store Day – Action Records 

GlastonFerrett – The Ferret 

Preston Pride 

Altr @ The Minster – Guild Hall 

Lancashire Encounter – Preston City Council 

Bongo’s Bingo – Guild Hall 

Retail Manager of the Year

Corrado Agnola – Slaters 

Gordon Gibson – Action Records 

Steve Henley – McDonalds (Friargate)

Michelle Littlefair – PDSA

Jo Holmes – Accessorize 

Andrew McCrindle – Wilko 

Lauren Holmes – Warren James 

Amanda Bolton – Toni & Guy

Matthew Wood – Krispy Kreme 

Lisa Barber – Boots

Beverley Wilkes – Debenhams

Sarah Forster – Thorntons

Sue Dodwell – Greggs

Laura Smith – Marks & Spencers

Hazel Smith – Sovereign Jewellers

James Howe – Richer Sounds

Lisa Kay – Mountain Warehouse 

Gary Thompson – The Entertainer

Keith Nixon – HMV

David Bullock – Preston Market 

Janine James – Victoria’s Vault 

Sue Clark – New Look 

Alison Murray- Perfume Shop

Multiple Retailer of the Year

Patisserie Valerie 

Top Shop

Peter Jackson The Jeweller

Debenhams

Mark O’Rourke Group – Otters Pocket, Finos Tapas, We Don’t Give A Fork

Subway – Church Street 

River Island 

Smiggle

Fat Face

Ann Summers

Costa (St George’s) 

Boots 

H&M

Specsavers 

Thorntons

Next

Clarks

Game 

Subway (Church Street) 

Clintons

Greenhalghs

Rymans

Slaters 

HMV

The Entertainer

Pandora

Swarovski

Argos

Greggs

Warren James

Jewellers

Mountain Warehouse

Richer Sounds

Select

Marks & Spencers 

Audio T 

Kripsy Kreme

French Connection 

3 Mobile Telephones

Wilko

Independent Business of the Year

That Comic Shop

House of Hair 

George Banks Jewellers

Friargate Hair & Beauty Studio 

Roast

Whittles Jewelers 

Halewood Books 

Isis Jewellers

True Colours Tattoo Studio

Audio T

Victoria’s Vault

Monthai 

Action Records

Hollywood Exports

Preston Optical Centre

Novello 

Bruccianis 

Cafune – South American Cafe

Yog Yums

Ravenous

Banana King

Margaret Mason

Ocean Designer Menswear

Townhouse Coffee and Brew Bar 

Brew + Bake

Market Trader of the Year

Adrian Liveseys Butchers 

Pickles of Preston 

The Pizza Box 

Fresh & Fruity 

Cherry Pie 

MoMoz Street Food

Redmans of Preston

Arthur Strand

Crunchy Croutons 

Priest Town Brewing 

Jonah’s Coffee 

Sheridan’s Bags 

Capelli Remi

Brew + Bake

Best Customer Service in a Leisure Business

Dan Cowell – Wings & Beer 

Roxanne Darcy – Popworld

Sean Devlin – Get Staffed

Lee Johnson – Switch 

Michelle Bowers – Hartleys

Alex Roden – Evoque 

Ross Taylor – No.10 Hotel 

Henry Fairclough – Ships & Giggles

Paul Harrison – Room 32

Danny Petricco – JD Gyms

Lynne Cianni – Tino’s

Pamela Leith – The Wellington

Darren McEvoy – 1842 

Chelsea Chard – Glovers

Joey Damsell – Fino Tapas

Joe Parr – Wings and Beer 

Gill Boardman – The Station Hotel 

Ellen Cunliffe – Twelve Twellers

Alice Corke – Costa (Debenhams)

Sophie O’Farrell – Yates

Best Customer Services in a Retail Business

Jaqueline Bates – Slaters

Amanda Bolton – Toni and Guy 

Alan Swindells – Richer Sounds 

Gordon Gibson – Action Records

Gage Bleakley – Krispy Kreme 

Wendy Bennett – Krispy Kreme 

Naomi Woodward-Hodgkiss – Roast 

Paul Roscoe – HMV

David Maudsley – Sheridans Bags 

Susan Miller – Swarovski

Glenis Allen – Clarks 

Sam Eaves – Ann Summers

Sharon Dilworth – Rymans

Gary Gilboy – Age UK Lancashire

Sue Dodwell – Greggs 

Fern Goldie Galloway – Office

Sarah Forster – Thorntons

James Howe – Richer Sounds 

Angela Holroyd – Mountain Warehouse

Matthew Wood – Krispy Kreme 

Jason Reilly – The Entertainer

Nicola Allan – Select 

Janine James – Victoria’s Vault

Outstanding Achievement in Retail

Andrew Stringer – St George’s Shopping Centre

Michael Halewood – Halewood Books

Dean Yates – Roast 

Jo Holmes – Accesorize

Gordon Gibson – Action Records

Adrian Livesey – Livesey’s Butchers

Matthew Wood – Krispy Kreme 

James Howe – Richer Sounds 

Rachel Lund – Costa (St George’s)

Sarah Forster – Thorntons 

Keith Mitchell – Fishergate Shopping Centre 

Laura Smith – Marks and Spencers 

Lauren Holmes – Warren James Jewellers

John Banks – George Banks Jewellers

Alan Sharp – Isis Jewellers

Margaret Mason – Margaret Mason

Outstanding Achievement in Leisure

Andrew Forster – Lofty’s

Simon Rigby – The Guildhall

Peter Alexander – Blitz

Darren Ofsarnie – Switch/Rift/Ballers/Review 

Serena Baxter – Room 32

Aimee Massey – Bistrot Pierre 

Ranya Ball – Yates

Dean Wilson – Olive Tree Brasserie

Lynne Cianni – Tinos

Lisa Billington – The Warehouse 

Jammie O’Brien – Ships & Giggles 

Leroy Allen – Beat Radio

Michael Seddon – Bar 1842 

Bradley Hollingsworth – The Greyfriar

Kyle Perkins – Yates

Preston’s City Star

Simon Rigby – Guild Hall

Andrew Forster – Lofty’s / The Wellington 

Ed Walker – Blog Preston 

Gordon Gibson – Action Records 

Alan Sharp – Isis Jewellers 

Louise Sey – Ravenous

Bernice Newton – Townhouse Coffee & Brew Bar 

Simon Meighan – Wings & Beer 

Sue Dodwell – Greggs 

Margaret Mason – Margaret Mason

Julie Stewart – Lancashire Constabulary

Alice Corke- Costa (Debenhams)

Andrew Stringer – St George’s Shopping Centre 

Cllr. Peter Kelly – Preston City Council 

Beverley Wilkes – Debenhams

Daniel Reid – Belong Gaming Arena

Peter Alexander – Blitz

Paul Harrison – Room 32

Ranvir Singh – ITV/UCLan