Some of Bridport's best businesses were recognised and praised

The Bridport Business Awards were held yesterday (Thursday) at the Tithe Barn in Symondsbury.

Guests enjoyed a lunch together before speeches from Nigel Reeve, of Marketing West - organisers of the awards - and Bridport mayor, councillor Ian Bark.

The winners were the announced by host Rick Simmonds and awards given out by the sponsors.

The winners were:

• Green Business of the Year (sponsored by Bridport Town Council) - GoGoeco
• Café, Pub and Hospitality Award (sponsored by NFU Beaminster) - The Crown Uploders, followed very closely by the Half Moon in Melplash
• Arts, Crafts and Artisan (sponsored by Footeprints) - Wrixtom Smyth
• Best Use of Digital (sponsored by Thomas Westcott) - Straight off the Boat
• Retail Business of the Year (sponsored by Higos Insurance) - Framptons
• New Business of the Year (sponsored by Haywards & Co) - Gorilla Canning
• Most Welcoming Business (sponsored by GDFS) - Green Yard Café
• Best Service Provider (sponsored by Porter Dodson) - Watershed PR
• Independent Business of the Year (sponsored by Bridport Business Chamber) - Animal House
• Best Customer Service (sponsored by Cornish Mutual) - Leakers Bakery
• Mental Wellbeing in the Workplace (sponsored by Training for Results) - Cherries Ice Cream Parlour
• Local Community Support Award (sponsored by Side by Side) - Watershed PR
• Overall Business of the Year (sponsored by Marketing West) - Leakers Bakery

Nigel Reeve said: "The awards showed the resilience of local business underpinned by a determination to get through this dreadful virus.

"The fact that the new business category had one of the highest levels of entries shows businesses are determined to beat it.

"The awards are not an excuse for a party. They are to promote the range and quality of local business and that's what they did."

You can watch the live stream of the events at the top of this page.

Check out our Facebook page for more photos from the event.

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