Town's best businesses recognised at awards evening

Sep 27 2012 by Camilla Goodman, Buckinghamshire Examiner

Mick Carling

BUSINESSES turned out in force to an Examiner supported awards ceremony that recognised the best in the town.

Campaign group Better Chesham’s second Retail and Hospitality Awards evening took place at The Elgiva, in St Mary’s Way, Chesham on Tuesday where the winners for the three categories were announced.

Scooping the award for Retailer of the Year 2012 was Fast Break Sports, in High Street, with Blue Haze Arts and Crafts, in Church Street, taking second place and Bulldog News, in Red Lion Street coming third.

Owner of Fast Break Sports, Rod Culverhouse said: “I feel after 35 years of being in the same place something like this deserves to be recognised and I’m delighted to receive the award.”

New restaurant Little Sicily, which has been open in The Broadway for six months, was named as Hospitality of the Year 2012 with Rumbles Pantry, in Church Street, coming second and Poppins in High Street coming third.

Owner of Little Sicily Sandro Mazzola said: “I’m feeling excited, the response from customers has been overwhelming.

“We’ve worked hard to deliver something that the town wanted and we look forward to the full year.

“It was a surprise to win, there was some stiff competition but we must be doing something right.”

This year there was a new category of Best Market Stall, which was picked by the judges including the Examiner’s Camilla Goodman.

This year’s winner was the regular Fruit and Veg stall with Local Produce Market stall Chiltern Ridge coming second and Wednesday’s flower stall coming third.

This year, 2,050 people voted for 55 different businesses compared to last year’s 900 votes for 30 businesses.

Organiser Mick Carling (pictured right) said: “It’s been absolutely sensational this year. There were some surprising winners this year in the sense that they’re probably not the people you most expect but they’re perhaps the most deserving.

“We hope for even more success next year.”

Chesham mayor Colette Littley said: “These awards make you realise what a good high street we’ve got and it’s not often you can’t get what you need in town. Thanks to everyone who voted.”