Celebrating Excellence at We Are Weymouth’s First Annual Awards Ceremony
On Monday 13th January 2025, We Are Weymouth, the town’s Business Improvement District (BID), hosted its inaugural annual award ceremony, aptly named “Best of the Best.” This event celebrated the outstanding contributions of local businesses.
Throughout the year, numerous participants enthusiastically engaged in Weymouth’s themed weekends, including Pirate Weekend, Zombie Week, and the Elf Light Switch-On. The winners were chosen based on the number of hearts and likes received on their Facebook page, reflecting the community’s active involvement and support. The awards for the best-dressed teams are as follows:
- Pirate Weekend: Tattoo Morningstar
- Zombie/Halloween Week: Hays Travel
- Elf Light Switch-On: Wafflicious
We Are Weymouth also extended a ‘special mention’ award to Reiker for their spirited participation in all three weekends.
In addition to these themed awards, a certificate was presented to the best newcomer. Weymouth welcomed 19 new businesses in 2024, from “By the Quay” in January to “The Cheese Rack” in December. The BID team awarded a participation certificate to the business that demonstrated exceptional initiative, communication, and support for BID activities, enhancing the town’s events and constantly engaging with the BID team. The Best Newcomer award was presented to Sticks and Bones.
We Are Weymouth also took this opportunity to honour some of its long-standing businesses with special recognition awards for their contributions throughout 2024. These businesses were commended for their outstanding service, collaboration, tireless effort, and unwavering support for We Are Weymouth. They went above and beyond their daily operations to initiate schemes such as FEAST and The Mystery Shoplifter Watch, run sector-specific meetings, promote town-wide initiatives, and remain positive despite challenges. The recipients were:
- Nothe Fort
- The Palm House
- Limelight Boutique
- The Crown Hotel
- The Library
- Les Enfant Terribles
- Tattoo Morningstar
- The Closet
The Christmas window competition saw 31 businesses transform their windows into a winter wonderland, engaging the public and creating a festive atmosphere. The competition ran for a month, with the public voting for their favourite displays. The aim was to “create a sense of wonder” and attract customers to the shops.
Additional Judges’ Awards were given to businesses that cleverly utilized their window space or made the best use of their shop contents. The recipients were:
- Judges’ Choice Winner: Floral Couture
- Highly Commended: Modern Barbers and Howley’s Toymaster
The public’s favourite displays were:
- 1st Place Winner: Margaret Green Rescue
- 2nd Place: Dry Dock
- 3rd Place: Nouveau Tattoo and Aesthetics
- Runner-Up: Sue Ryder
“We were so thrilled to win the award it took us completely by surprise, the window took so much work, because so much of it was handmade. We worked tirelessly for weeks to create the concept and the winter wonderland” said Diana McKendrick – assistant manager of Margaret Green Animal Care, charity shop. “We didn’t think we’d come anywhere, so to win was incredible. We were thrilled not only for our staff but also for awareness of the charity too.”
We Are Weymouth is proud to celebrate the dedication and creativity of its local businesses, which continue to make the town a vibrant and welcoming place for residents and visitors alike.
We Are Weymouth is Weymouth’s Business Improvement District, dedicated to enhancing the town centre’s vitality and promoting economic growth. Through various initiatives and events, We Are Weymouth strives to create a vibrant and welcoming environment for businesses, residents, and visitors alike. For more information on all of Weymouth’s FREE TO ATTEND events, please follow our social media channels.
