Southport’s thriving business community has been recognised and celebrated at a brand new independent event for the town.
The inaugural Southport Business Awards 2026 took place at the town’s picturesque Victoria Park, shining the spotlight on 16 category winners and finalists. Almost 250 guests enjoyed a black-tie celebration in the Summer Pavilion Marquee at Southport Flower Show, the host venue for the event. The awards evening brought together businesses from across Southport – providing local owners, professionals, and entrepreneurs the opportunity to network, make new connections, and celebrate each other’s successes.
Southport Business Awards were created to celebrate local talent, innovation, recognise growth, and showcase the achievements of Southport’s business community – giving nominees a platform to highlight their own achievements and success stories through a new initiative. Westcoast Workwear was named as Business Of The Year; Alcedo Care was recognised as Employer Of The Year; while the very first Judges’ Special Award was presented to Polanskys. Alongside the awards ceremony, guests enjoyed a welcome drink and three-course meal from Divine Catering, and a full evening of live entertainment from Flower Pot Men, comedians The Bread & Butter Company, and pianist Aidan Gray AG Piano.
Southport Business Awards are the brainchild of Fiona McGregor from social media marketing agency One Media Solutions, and Dan Charles from the Seen In Southport podcast. Through the collective work of Fiona and Dan in the town, many guests appearing on the Seen In Southport podcast have asked for other ways to showcase what they do, how to tell their own individual stories, and how to champion expertise and success. Taking the feedback on-board from the business community, Fiona and Dan created the new awards – with the ethos of giving companies of all sizes and sectors an exciting new opportunity to shine a light on their business.
All businesses based in, or predominantly serving Southport were invited to get involved – sole traders, independent retailers, multi-generational family businesses, cafes, start-ups, tradespeople, creatives, professionals, franchises, and national brands. They were encouraged to showcase their positive impact in the local community.
The awards were free to enter. Nominations were evaluated by a panel of five independent judges. Winners were announced at the awards evening.
All 16 category winners will receive a prize bundle worth over £800, including promotional opportunities, social media coverage, professional video and photos, and a trophy. The winners have also been invited to appear on the Seen In Southport podcast. This will allow each business to share their story, talk about the people behind the success, and what the win means to the team. Recordings take place this month.
The full list of winners are:
Best Start-Up / New Business – Lancashire Handy Heroes For emerging local ventures showing promise and fresh ideas.
Best Beauty & Wellness Business – Massage Therapy Rooms For salons, spas, or fitness services promoting health and self-care in the community.
Best Trades / Home Services – Tower Heating For skilled professionals including plumbers, electricians, handypeople, or gardeners keeping homes running smoothly.
Best Professional Services – Hodge Halsall For experts including accountants, consultants, or legal firms providing essential support to the area.
Best Retail Business – Lucy Lous Boutique Awarding shops that offer exceptional products, from independent stores to boutiques.
Best Creative / Digital Business – CM Digital Collective Celebrating graphic designers, videographers, photographers, film-makers, web designers, marketing agencies, and other creative or digital businesses making a positive impact in Southport.
Best Customer Service (Professional) – Replica Print Honouring those who go above and beyond in serving customers through professional services and reliable tradespeople.
Best Customer Service (Hospitality) – Vintage Tea Room Honouring those who go above and beyond in serving customers in the hospitality sector.
Family Business Of The Year – Dressed To Be Blessed Recognising multi-generational or family-owned operations that embody local tradition and resilience.
Community Contribution Award – SPT Jam For businesses making a positive difference through charity, local events, or support initiatives.
Best Food & Drink Establishment – Great Himalayas For stand-out cafés, restaurants, or pubs delivering quality local cuisine.
Best Hospitality Venue – The Ready Steady Chef Recognising hotels, B&Bs, or event spaces for welcoming service and visitor experiences.
Sustainable Business Award – Sally Bee Pre Loved Celebrating eco-friendly practices, including green operations in shops or services.
Employer Of The Year – Alcedo Care For companies excelling in employee welfare, training, and workplace culture.
Judges’ Special Award – Polanskys Awarded to the individual or business who judges feel really stood out among the nominations, demonstrating outstanding dedication to Southport and its community.
Business Of The Year – Westcoast Workwear Recognising the overall top performer in the Southport community, based on growth, impact, and reputation.
Fiona McGregor from One Media Solutions commented: “We’re still very much elated following the success of the very first Southport Business Awards. Congratulations to all the winners, finalists, and guests. And we’re very grateful to the judging panel for their expertise and support.
“We were thrilled and encouraged by the volume and quality of nominations we received for the inaugural year. It was an ambitious initiative, but the feedback we’ve received has been nothing short of incredible.
“Bringing 250 people together from all sectors of the Southport business community, connecting and collaborating, is exactly what we wanted to achieve. The awards and what they represent have captured the attention of the business community. The atmosphere on the night was electric, with businesses really supporting and lifting each other.
“It’s been a challenging few years for business and Southport overall, but everyone’s resilience, optimism, determination, and commitment to our wonderful town is inspiring and empowering. We are already planning an awards return for 2027, so watch this space.”
