Call for certainty for stars of business in Skegness
This was the message from MP Matt Warman after addressing the finalists at a prestigious ceremony at the Southview Park Hotel on Friday.
Guests representing the 11 categories, including Business of the Year, sat down to a three-course turkey dinner ahead of the speeches and presentations.
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Hide AdFollowing the meal Paul Dixon, chairman of organisers Skegness Area Business Chamber, welcomed everyone to the fourth annual awards.
“From the largest entry yet it is clear that Skegness businesses are thriving,” he said. “Tonight we welcome the cream of the crop, but I also say thank you to all the other entries that did not make it this far.”
There was also mention of the public who voted online for the Best Place to Eat. Mr Dixon said: “We are thankful to the 9,874 people who told us what they think. The top three are here as finalists.”
Mr Warman congratulated all of the finalists, reminding them they were all winners. Promising not to talk about Brexit, he kept his speech short and light-hearted, saying he had noticed Jump Warriors in the Best New Business category and it was already costing him a lot with his own family visiting the venue.
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Hide Ad“I was a little worried when I saw Best Place to Eat had gone to the public vote, though,” he said. “Residents are not going to get a second go.”
Afterwards he said the businesses should not be worried about the future. “The finalists here tonight represent everything that is great about Skegness.
“They should not be worried about Brexit. All they need is for the Government to get on with it and put back some certainty in the country.”
Judy Chapman, secretary of the Chamber, added that she wanted to thank everyone who entered the 2018 Business Awards. “I would say it was the biggest and best ever and just goes to show how many fantastic businesses we have in this great town,” she said.
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Hide AdWinners and finalists were introduced by Melvyn Prior of BBC Radio Lincolnshire (sponsors in brackets:
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR - (Skegness area Business Chamber)
Winner of winners - Phoenix Fitness
BEST NEW BUSINESS - (Duncan and Topliss Chartered Accountants)
Winner - Jump Warriors
Peekaboo
Bella Beauty
COMMUNITY AWARD - (Skegness and Ingoldmells LVA)
Winner - Winthorpe Community Partnership
County Care Independent Living
Link Chaplaincy
BEST ACCOMMODATION - (Hodgkinsons)
Winner - Rose Cottage
The Saxby Hotel
Ivernia Hotel
INDUSTRIAL FIRM OF THE YEAR - (First College)
Winner - Windale Furnishings
Piper Window Systems
Hames Chocolate
J&R Wristbands
CUSTOMER CARE AWARD - (Stagecoach)
Winner - Beam Estate Agents
People First Mobility
Digby Pets & Aquatics
EVENT OF THE YEAR - (FIX Auto)
Winner - Vintage Seaside Festival
Skegness Summer Festival
Kite Festival - Grosvenor House Hotel
BEST PLACE TO EAT - (Booker).
Winner - Trawlers Catch
San Rufo’s
Mario’s
GREEN AWARD- (Sid Dennis and Sons Ltd).
Winner - Ingoldmells Holidays
Seacroft Golf Club
Digby Pets & Aquatics
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR - (The Royal Hotel, Skegness)
Winner - Ryan Hart – Kirks Quality Foods
Brenda Hunter – Grosvenor Hotel
Mandy Hayes – Skegness Day Centre
WELLBEING BUSINESS AWARD - (Roman Bank Bingo)
Winner - Phoenix Fitness
Hydro Health & Beauty
Skegness Day Centre
*More on the winners in next week’s Skegness Standard.