Bridport's Electric Palace celebrated its 97th birthday last week with the announcement that it has won Best Theatre/Arts Ventre in the Muddy Stilettos Local Business Awards 2023.

Across the country, 77,000 businesses were nominated in the first round of voting and a total of 800,000 votes were cast. 

The awards are broken down in to 28 counties in the UK with the Electric Palace nominated in and winning the Best Theatre/Arts Venue category in the Dorset, Somerset and Bristol region for the second year running.

Commenting on social media, the Electric Palace said: Thank you ever so much to everyone that voted for our little gem of a theatre, we are very grateful. What a birthday present to have winning Best Theatre/Arts Venue in Dorset, Somerset & Bristol! 

"Thank you all our customers who continue to support us, we hope we deliver just a little bit of magic and escapism for you." 

Other local winners included Salon on the Square in Beaminster, which won Best Hair Salon, The Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis which won Best Restaurant, and holiday let Lyme Regis Stays or Best Boutique Stay. 

Commenting on the win on Facebook, Salon on the Square said: "We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Salon on the Square has won the prestigious Muddy Stiletto Award for Best Salon in Somerset, Dorset & Bristol 2023! This incredible achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our amazing guests and local community.

"We are truly grateful to every one of you who voted, cheered us on, and believed in our vision. Your trust and loyalty mean the world to us. This award is a testament to the hard work, passion, and dedication of our entire team, who consistently go above and beyond to provide exceptional salon experiences.

"Being recognised as the Best Hair Salon in the region is not just an honour, but also a reflection of the relationships we have built and the positive impact we strive to make every day. We are committed to continuing to exceed your expectations and delivering the highest level of service.

"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support, loyalty, and for choosing Salon on the Square. We share this incredible achievement with every one of you."

Each regional winner will also be put forward for the National Muddy Awards to find the 'best of the best' across all 28 Muddy counties. The national winners will be announced later this month.