Final shortlist revealed for LoveNUL Business Awards 2026

Sixty businesses, individuals and community groups have been shortlisted across 13 categories ahead of the LoveNUL Business Awards ceremony in October, including Staffordshire Signal CEO & Editor Jenna Goodwin, who has been nominated for Newcastle Ambassador of the Year.

The full shortlist for the LoveNUL Business Awards 2026 has now been revealed, with 60 businesses, individuals and community groups recognised across 13 categories.

More than 500 nominations were submitted for this year’s awards, celebrating the businesses, people and organisations that make a difference to Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The remaining seven shortlists were selected by judging panels made up of representatives from the Newcastle-under-Lyme BID Board and team alongside each category’s award sponsor.

Customer Service of the Year, sponsored by Thompson Wright

• Anasma Greek Bakery
• Arta Meiksane, Mellards Bar
• Kevin Lownds Funeral Services
• Ruby at Piccoloco
• Specsavers Newcastle-under-Lyme

New Business of the Year, sponsored by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council

• Ascot Formal Suit Hire
• Castletown Podzamcze
• Community Cupboard NUL CIC
• EM Beauty Clinic
• The One Boutique

Market & Event Trader of the Year, sponsored by New Vic Theatre

• Backyard Burgers
• Calisi’s Cookies
• Cannonball Records
• Taylor’s Flowers and Plants
• The Antique’s Forum

Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by University of Staffordshire

• Apedale Heritage Centre
• Brampton Museum
• New Vic Theatre
• Philip Astley Centre
• The Rigger

Community Connector Award, sponsored by KMF

• 6 Towns Radio
• ArtBox
• Castle Creatives
• Community Cupboard NUL CIC
• PoGo Newcastle-under-Lyme

Newcastle Ambassador of the Year, sponsored by We Are Staffordshire

• Andrew Van Buren
• Elise Turner
• Jamie Wells
• Jenna Goodwin
• Nick Degg

Unsung Hero of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce

• Ben Betts
• Caring Hands and More
• King Street Congregational Church Foodbank
• LifeWorks
• The Lyme Trust

They join the businesses already shortlisted across the six publicly voted categories: Beauty & Wellbeing, Business Services, Café & Coffee Shop, Hospitality Venue, Pub, Beer & Ale Venue and Retailer of the Year.

More than 160 guests are expected to attend the fourth LoveNUL Business Awards at St Giles’ Church on Friday 9th October.

The venue will bring shortlisted businesses, community organisations, sponsors and partners together for an evening celebrating the people and organisations helping Newcastle-under-Lyme thrive.

Charl Pearce, BID Manager at Newcastle-under-Lyme BID, said:

“We’ve had another brilliant response to the awards this year. More than 500 nominations were submitted and so far over 2000 votes have been cast across 6 categories, which shows just how much people value the businesses, individuals and community groups we have here in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

“We've loved reading the stories behind the nominations. Some of those shortlisted are very visible in the town while others are quietly getting on with brilliant work behind the scenes, but they all make a genuine difference.

“With the full shortlist now revealed, we’re looking forward to bringing more than 160 people together at St Giles’ Church to celebrate them. Narrowing the nominations down was no easy job for our judging panel  and we can’t wait to reveal the winners on the night.”

Public voting across the six publicly voted categories remains open until Friday 18th September at www.lovenulawards.co.uk.  

The LoveNUL Business Awards are organised by Newcastle-under-Lyme BID.