A NUMBER of Bridport businesses have been recognised at the 2021 Bridport Business Awards.

The second Bridport Business Awards ceremony went ahead on Thursday, June 10 at the Tithe Barn on the Symondsbury Estate.

The event went off without a hitch and saw many deserving businesses awarded for their hard work over the past year. There was a large field to choose from in each category as entries were three times higher than the previous year.

Leakers Bakery on East Street received the crown jewel of the event, being awarded Overall Business of the Year. The acclaimed bakery also picked up the award for best Customer Service.

Watershed PR also received two awards, taking the top prize in both the Best Service Provider and Local Community Support categories.

The award for New Business of the Year was given to 'affordable canning' company, Gorilla Canning whilst independent butchers Framptons of Bridport picked up the award for Retail Business of the Year.

In the world of hospitality, the Crown Inn in Uploders was given the Café, Pub and Hospitality Award whilst the Green Yard Café picked up the award for Most Welcoming Business.

The Green Business of the Year award went to sustainable, plastic free shop, GoGoEco and the award for Best Use of Digital was awarded to Straight off the Boat, a company founded during the pandemic to support small scale commercial fishermen.

Cherries Ice Cream Parlour scooped up the award for Mental Wellbeing in the Workplace, whilst handcrafted jewellery shop Wrixton Smyth Creations received the award for Arts, Crafts and Artisan. Animal House, a pet shop specialising in 'creature comforts' took home the award for Independent Business of the Year.

Nigel Reeve of Marketing West, who organised the awards, said: "The concept behind the awards is to promote the range and quality of local businesses - the awards were not an excuse for a party.

"What has been noticeable is the number of positive comments received saying how great it's been seeing business contacts again, albeit at a distance.

"The award for New Business of the Year had one of the highest numbers of entries out of all the categories which really shows the determination of local businesses."

Speeches were made prior to the award giving by Mr Reeve and Mayor of Bridport, Cllr Ian Bark who opened the ceremony.

Attendance numbers for the ceremony were restricted due to Covid restrictions. As a result of this the event was streamed live and can still be seen at www.bridportbusinessawards.co.uk.

The organisers of the awards have confirmed they will return next year on March 24 2022.