WHO makes St Helens’ best roast dinner?
Where is the best place to have your hair or nails done?
Which is the town’s best independent shop?
In April, we launched the St Helens Star Best of 2022 competition to find the best that St Helens has to offer in 20 categories.
Each week, readers nominated their favourite cafes, gyms and pubs as well as fish chip shops, beer gardens and fitness instructors and we put together a shortlist of the town’s popular places with an overall winner for each category voted by you, the readers.
Here are the 20 winners, who all topped the table in this year’s awards.
The Sceret Halo's Gemma Dean
Best for Hair: The Secret Halo, Boundary Road, St Helens
Gemma Dean was the first winner of one of our Best of 2022 awards taking home the Best for Hair title. Clients describe Gemma, who has been hairdressing for 14 years, as their “guardian angel” who helps people going through cancer treatment and suffering from hair loss illnesses.
Read their story here: The Secret Halo
John Burchall and his award-winning pies
Best Pies: Burchall’s, Westfield Street, St Helens
The butcher/baker establishment on Westfield Street boasts five generations of a family business dating back more than a century with John Burchall currently at the helm, selling one pie – a tasty pork pie – but it’s a good one!
Read their story here: Burchall’s
Samantha Houghton at Envy Nails and Beauty
Best for Nails: Envy Nails and Beauty, Junction Lane, Sutton
Samantha Houghton has had her own nail and beauty for nine years and always goes the extra mile for her customers – who voted for her to win this award.
Read their story here: Envy Nails and Beauty
Hannah at Cinema Bar
Best Pub: Cinema Bar, Duke Street, St Helens
Twenty-eight-year-old runs the popular place with boyfriend Tom Chisnall and the doors are open Thursday to Sunday, serving a wide selection of drinks and a cocktail of the week
Read their story here: Cinema Bar
Ashley-James Ward from Award Fitness
Best for Fitness: Ashley-James Ward, Unit 4, The Barge Business Park, Merton Bank Road, St Helens
The fitness instructor of the year award went to 37-year-old personal trainer Ashley-James Ward following a landslide victory in the voting.
Read their story here: Ashley James Ward
Chipmunk's fish and chips
Best Fish and Chips: Chipmunk Fingerpost, Higher Parr Street, St Helens
Serving fantastic fish and chips for more than four decades, this eatery boasts customers living in Australia, who think about the food they had from Chipmunk as a child.
Read their story here: Chipmunk Fingerpost
Best for Beauty Chantel Louise Beauty
Best for Beauty: Chantel Louise Beauty, Salon 154, Thatto Heath Road, St Helens
At just 22-years-old, Chantel Galavan is already making waves and winning awards in the beauty industry.
Read their story here: Chantel Louise Beauty
Toast on Denton's Green Lane
Best for Breakfast: Toast, Denton’s Green Lane, Denton’s Green, St Helens
Grilled haloumi with a maple and chipotle sauce served on a toasted muffin, the classic eggs Benedict with homemade hollandaise sauce, and the traditional full English breakfast are all on the menu tempting tastebuds at this popular town centre café.
Read their story here: Toast
Sunflower Coffee Shop's afternoon tea
Best for Afternoon Tea: Sunflower Coffee Shop, Willowbrook Hospice, Borough Road, St Helens
When it comes to afternoon tea, it’s all about the scones and the ones served at Sunflower Coffee Shop are award-winning. Teamed with a selection of sandwiches, pork pies and sausage rolls, the afternoon tea also features Victoria sponge, Bakewell tart and meringue.
Read their story here: Sunflower Coffee Shop
Antonia's Cakes - Best Independent Shop and Best Dessert 2022
Best Independent Shop and Best Dessert: Antonia’s Cakes, Duke Street, St Helens
Winning Best of 2022 awards became something of a habit for Antonia’s Cakes owner Lauren King, who took home two titles for her delicious desserts. The mouth-watering cookie pies are popular with customers and they received more than 500 votes in the search to find the best dessert in St Helens.
Read their story here: Best Independent Shop - Antonia's Cakes Best Dessert - Antonia's Cakes
Brown Edge Pub - Best Roast Dinner and Best Pizza
Best Roast Dinner and Best Pizza: Brown Edge Pub, Nutgrove Road, Thatto Heath
What’s better than winning one Best of 2022 award? Winning two! Brown Edge Pub did the double and bagged two titles for their fantastic roast dinners and fabulous pizzas.
Read their story here: Best Roast Dinner – Brown Edge Pub Best Pizza – Brown Edge Pub
The Boathouse at Carr Mill Dam
Best Beer Garden: The Boathouse, Carr Mill Dam, Garswood Old Road, St Helens
The Boathouse is the perfect place to take in the scenery at Carr Mill Dam, while enjoying a drink and a bite to eat. This is an ideal spot for walkers and hikers to stop before or after their daily exercise.
Read their story here: The Boathouse at Carr Mill Dam
Willowbees Adventure Play
Best for Kids: Willowbees, Ashton Road, Newton-le-Willows
Willowbees Adventure Play was voted the best place to take the children to let off steam during the school holidays and it’s popular with children of all ages – and their parents!
Read their story here: Willowbees Adventure Play
A dirty burger at Two Brothers Burgers in Thatto Heath
Best Burger: Brothers Burgers, Thatto Heath Road, St Helens
Brothers Darren and Steven Leigh have perfected the dirty burger - a double cheeseburger served on a seeded brioche bun topped with lettuce, tomato, jalapenos, bacon and a warm cheese sauce. Brothers Burgers in Thatto Heath is one of three branches of the business with other venues in Haydock and Warrington.
Read their story here: Brothers Burgers
A cup of coffee from Two Brothers Coffee
Best Café: Two Brothers Coffee, The Book Stop’s Here, Bridge Street, St Helens
The popular brand was born five years ago and aims to deliver the perfect brew using ethically sourced coffee. It was launched in Altrincham and then Warrington before moving to St Helens last year.
Read their story here: Two Brothers Coffee
Axe & Hammer Fitness
Best Gym: Axe & Hammer, Unit 8, Sandwash Close, St Helens
AXE & Hammer Fitness has been combatting gym cliches and stereotypes for the past three years making sure customers don’t feel intimated when they’re working out.
The loyal gym-goers are so grateful for the relaxed and friendly environment that owner Danny Arnold has created that they voted the business St Helens’ Best Gym 2022.
Read their story here: Axe & Hammer
The hard working team at Balti Spice
Best Curry: Balti Spice, Duke Street, St Helens
Owner Steve Chowdhury and his team provide such a warm welcome at Balti Spice that customers feel like they’re part of the family. Steve works seven days a week ensuring that every visitor is treated like a guest.
Read their story here: Balti Spice
Anatolia Grill
Best Restaurant: Anatolia Grill, Duke Street, St Helens
There’s no time to sit back and relax having won the town’s best restaurant honour as owner Ali Yurdakurban is determined to keep the number one spot and continue to strive for success.
Read their story here: Anatolia Grill
Congratulations to everyone who won a Best of 2022 award!
We will be launching the Best of 2023 awards in the new year.
We will be looking for nominations each week and then asking readers to vote from a shortlist to find the best that St Helens has to offer in 2023.
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