Local entrepreneur and Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Tooting, Dan Watkins, hosted the Balham and Tooting ‘Love Your Local’ awards on 28th February. The initiative has been running since December and helped connect residents with their local independent stores by encouraging them to nominate their favourite shops, restaurants and pubs.
Held at The French Café on Ritherdon Road, attendees included local residents, businesses, local MP Jane Ellison and representatives of the Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Small Businesses, all of whom joined Dan in congratulating the most voted-for shops. Many of the positive customer quotes which had been posted on the Love Your Local website were displayed on boards for attendees to read.
Addressing the audience, Dan commented, ’Small firms are the lifeblood of our economy, employing local people and providing a huge diversity of products and excellent customer service. The government has helped high street shops reduce their costs, through recent cuts in business rates and employer’s national insurance. I wanted to compliment this support by helping our independent shops attract new customers and boost their revenues. Love Your Local has really engaged the local community, with a thousand residents and shops participating.’
The most nominated shops in Tooting were:
- Libo & Giovanna – favourite hairdressers and winner overall
- Egg Free Cake Box – favourite cake shop and 2nd overall
- Bonnie's Pets - favourite florists and 3rd place overall
- Kitchen Table – favourite café/restaurant
- Fisher & Co – favourite coffee shop
- Meza – favourite restaurant
- Mirch masala – favourite curry house
- Naked Loaf – favourite shop in Furzedown
- Graveney & Meadow – favourite pub
The most nominated shops in Balham were:
- Grove Food & Wine - favorite convenience store and winner overall
- Lavish Habit - favourite coffee shop and 2nd overall
- Quirky Dovetail - favourite furniture shop and 3rd overall
- The French Café - favourite restaurant
- The Regent - favourite pub
- Postmark - favourite card shop
- Whippet - favourite gift shop
- Sewing Craft Superstore - favourite craft store
- Parade Fish Bar - favourite take-away
Steve Pinto, Chairman of the Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce, stated, 'I've known Dan since he started his business in Earlsfield ten years ago, and we're pleased that now in his political role he has chosen to help our local shops. These businesses operate in a very competitive environment and our local politicans and business networks need to rally round them and help them thrive'.
The awards event was featured in the Wandsworth Guardian and you can read the article here.