As a local business owner, I recognise the importance of small businesses in our area. I am standing in the Tooting by-election on the 16th June to be your next MP and as part of my plan for Tooting, I will continue to champion our high streets. On top of my ‘Love Your Local’ initiative, I'll also work to create a new work space for small firms and local freelancers, further helping our local economy.
Now in its third year, I established ‘Love Your Local’ as a way of celebrating the excellence of our local shops, restaurants, pubs and bars. Last month I hosted the 2016 ‘Love Your Local’ awards and I want to congratulate our brilliant winners and thank all of our independent shops, who bring diversity and great customer service to our High Streets.
The winner in Tooting was long-established Libo & Gio Hairdressers. In Balham, it was the popular Brickwood café that collected first prize. Meanwhile, long-time favourite Sea Horse Fish Bar topped the Earlsfield poll for the second year running. The full list of winners is below.
Here are all the winners!
Balham and Wandsworth Common
- Brickwood – Overall Winner and Best Café
- Deelite Bakery – Overall Runner-up and Best Bakery
- Quirky Dovetail – Best Furniture Shop
- Whippet – Best Gift Shop
- The French Café – Best Restaurant
- Chadwicks – Best Butchers
- Bellevue Chemist – Wandsworth Common Winner and Best Chemist
- Libo & Gio – Overall Winner and Best Hairdresser
- Mud – Overall Runner-up and Best Coffee Shop
- Vijaya Krishna – Best Curry House
- The Antelope – Best Pub
- Unwined – Best Bar
- The Little Taperia – Best Restaurant
- The Village – Furzedown Winner
- Sea Horse Fish & Chips – Overall Winner and Best Takeaway
- Bean & Hop – Overall Runner-up and Best Coffee Shop
- Nazmins – Best Restaurant
- Belle Amie – Best Café
- Four Mirrors Hair – Best Hairdressers