Winners of Annual Customer Service Awards Announced at Glittering Ceremony

Businesses from across Chester joined together for the 8th Chester BID Customer Service Awards

Businesses that excelled in customer service were awarded at a ceremony at The Guild, Chester on Thursday.

The Chester BID Customer Services Awards are now in their 8^th year and recognise Chester’s shops, restaurants, bars, independent retailers, and service providers that go that extra mile for customers. This years proud sponsor was Powells Jewellery.

Nominated online by the general public, the awards cover 14 categories including Best Independent Business, Best Small Business and Best Restaurant. The businesses that received the most votes from the public were then visited by a mystery shopper to determine the overall winner.

Among the winners on the night was Geoff Hughes Family Butchers which picked up ‘Best Chester Market Trader’ and Boots walked away with the award for ‘Best Large Retailer’ (more than 20 staff in store). Holistic lifestyle store Suzie K was awarded ‘Best Independent Retailer’.

John Welsh and Customer Service Award Winner Geoff Hughes Family Butcher

Ian Gordon and Customer Service Award Winners Suzie K

‘Best Health and Beauty Services’ went to Brow HQ, whilst Deva Travel took home the award for ‘Best Travel and Leisure’ for the second year in a row and Lloyds Bank won the accolade for the ‘Best Professional Services’ in the city.

Bethany Gail and Customer Service Award Winners Brow HQ

Stephanie Peters and Customer Service Award Winners Deva Travel

Businesses of all sizes were rewarded for their dedication to customer service with Lush winning ‘Best Small Retailer’ (less than 20 staff in store), Dr Martens winning ‘Best Small Fashion Retailer’ (less than 20 staff in store) and the ‘Best of Grosvenor Shopping Centre’ award went to Jigsaw.

Lucy Elms and Customer Service Award Winners Jigsaw

Chalk on Watergate Street won ‘Best Coffee Shop and Cafe’, whilst Bar Lounge, took home the award for ‘Best Pub, Bar and Club’ for the second year in a row and Artezzan were named ‘Best Restaurant’. Chatwins won in the ‘Best Food On The Go’ category, as they did in 2022 and The Coach House took the award for ‘Best Hotel/B&B’.

Tim Stratford and Customer Service Award Winners Chalk

Katrina Kerr and Customer Service Award Winners The Coach House

Jim Dorrington, Operations Director at Artezzan said “Chester has become a destination with some of the best businesses in Cheshire and the North West. This isn’t by chance or luck, it’s simply because of the fantastic people who own, run, and work in them. I believe that we are a city with a true focus on excellent service, and the Customer Service Awards night highlights just that!”

Rebecca Bradbury and Customer Service Award Winners Artezzan

Carl Critchlow, Chief Executive of Chester BID added: “Congratulations to the outstanding winners of the Customer Service Awards 2023! Your unwavering commitment to exceptional service has not only set a benchmark for excellence but has also contributed significantly to the overall appeal of our city. Your dedication is the driving force behind the success of our local businesses, making Chester an even more welcoming and memorable place for everyone. Well done, and thank you for your remarkable contributions.”

The full list of winners can be found below:

• Best Coffee Shop/Café – Chalk
  2^nd Jaunty Goat / 3^rd The Rainbow Tearooms

•Best Food on the Go – Chatwins
2^nd Jaunty Goat Bakery / Pret A Manger

•Best Restaurant – Artezzan
2^nd Chez Jules / 3^rd Shrub

•Best Pub / Bar – Bar Lounge
2^nd Paysan / 3^rd The Coach House

•Best Small Retailer – Lush
2^nd Oliver Bonas / 3^rd Waterstones

•Best Small Fashion Retailer – Dr. Martens
2^nd The White Company / 3^rd FatFace

•Best Independent Retailer – Suzie K
2^nd Chester Boutique / 3^rd Styled Boutique

•Best Large Retailer – Boots
2^nd Marks & Spencer / 3^rd Wilko

•Best Health and Beauty Service – Brow HQ
2^nd The Scented Garden / 3^rd Lush

•Best Professional Service – Lloyds Bank
2^nd Halifax / 3^rd Natwest

•Best Travel and Leisure – Deva Travel
2^nd Breakout Chester / 3^rd Storyhouse

•Best Chester Market Trader – Geoff Hughes Family Butcher
2^nd Thai By Thai / 3^rd Cheshire Farm Ice Cream

•Best Hotel/B&B – The Coach House
2^nd The Pied Bull / 3^rd The Chester Grosvenor

•Best of the Grosvenor Shopping Centre – Jigsaw
2^nd Kayes Jewellers / 3^rd Jewellery By Design

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