Eight independent retailers have been shortlisted for this year’s Love Your High Street Awards, organised by the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), with the public now able to vote for their favourite.
More than 600 nominations were received this year, up from 588 last year, despite a nomination window three weeks shorter than in 2025. The shortlist was decided by a panel of four judges, who were given each business’ profile and asked to make their picks independently, with most reaching the same conclusion on who should make the final eight.
The finalists are:
● A Darn Good Yarn in Camborne, Cornwall
● Garden King in Swadlincote, Derbyshire
● Health & Remedy in Chard, Somerset
● Jackson’s, the Herbalists of Yorkshire in Doncaster, Yorkshire
● Not Just Pets in Bath, Somerset
● Rocket and Bird gift shop and gallery in Taunton, Somerset
● That Little Bookshop in Stafford, Staffordshire
● The Mug Tree Tea Room in East Grinstead, West Sussex
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said: “Every one of these businesses shows what makes independent retail so special. They are all evidence that indie retail is very much alive and kicking and has a bright future with right support through central government policies. Choosing a shortlist was genuinely difficult, and now it’s over to the public to decide who deserves to take the title.”
A list of ‘special mention’ finalists, and businesses who narrowly missed out on the top eight but scored highly with the judges, will be announced shortly.
The public vote is open now and closes on October 11, with the winner announced on October 26.
To vote for your favourite, visit https://bira.co.uk/campaigns/lyhs/lyhs-awards-finalists/
