The winners of the 2020 Bridport Business Awards have been announced.

More than 50 local businesses and their colleagues attended the awards ceremony at Martins Bar and Restaurant on Thursday, March 5.

Entries for the awards were 33% higher than expected and covered a broad range of businesses from around the Bridport area.

Each entrant had a visit or call from an independent secret shopper who marked the company using pre-set criteria.

Nigel Reeve of Marketing West, who organised the awards, said: “The standard of marking across the board was extremely high, with many of the entrants separated by just a couple of points. Having a joint winner for Business of the Year reflected this.

“We'd like to congratulate all entrants on such a high standard of entries. It just shows the quality of businesses in the Bridport area."

The category winners were announced at the awards lunch, and the winners were:

Best Window Display-Sponsored by Wessex FM.

Winner-Naturalife

Best Layout and Product Range-Sponsored by DTHR Solutions

Winner-Washingpool

Best Community Involvement-Sponsored by Watershed PR

Winner-West Dorset Leisure Holidays

Most Welcoming Business-Sponsored by Higos Insurance Services

Winner -Parkers Property

Most Welcoming Telephone Manner-Sponsored by GDFS

Winner-Station Kitchen

Best Customer Service-Sponsored by IT Support 365

Winner - R J Balson and Son

New Business of the Year-Sponsored by St Michael's Trading Estate

Winner-James Loveridge Photography

Retail Business of the Year-Sponsored by Bridport Business Chamber

Winner -Colmers Hill Fashion

Service Provider of the Year-Sponsored by Poundbury Wealth Management

Winner-Veritas Resolution

Local Restaurant/Caterer of the Year-Sponsored by Porter Dodson Solicitors

Winner- West Dorset Leisure Holidays

Business of the Year

Shared between Colmers Hill Fashion and West Dorset Leisure Holidays