St Helens' top 12 independent shops and businesses revealed

THIS week is Independents’ Week – a whole week dedicated to promoting independent retail businesses across the UK.

Last Friday, we launched our latest Best of 2023 search as part of these celebrations and we wanted to find the best independent shop or business in St Helens.

So far in our Best of 2023 competition we’ve given out ten coveted awards.

Next up, we wanted to show small business owners at the heart of our local communities some love and celebrate the best the town has to offer as they juggle increasing overheads, competition from big brand companies and the ever-increasing trend for online shopping.

We asked you to make your favourite’s day by nominating them for our Best Independent Shop award and joining the #ukindieday promotional campaign.

After reading all of your nominations, we’ve shortlisted the top 12, who will battle it out to be named Best Independent Shop 2023 in St Helens.

Now we need your help to choose an overall winner from our shortlist.

There are three ways to vote:

1. Search for the Best Independent Shop shortlist post on our St Helens Star Facebook or Twitter pages and comment under the post with the name of your winner = 1 vote

2. Name your favourite in the comments section on this article via our website = 2 votes

3. Purchase a copy of this week’s St Helens Star (Thursday, July 6 edition) and fill in the entry form = 5 votes

(*NB For newspaper entries, email a screenshot of the completed entry form to heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk – please note that only original copies will be accepted. More than one entry can be submitted per person but you will be asked to provide your own unique reference code for each entry to avoid duplication eg if your name is Smith you may wish to write Smith123 or HS21! as your code. You will need to provide a different code for each different coupon submitted. For full terms and conditions go to Newsquest.co.uk/terms)

Voting officially opens today, Thursday, and closes at midnight on Monday, July 10 and we will be announcing the winner next week.

Keep an eye out for our next Best of appeal on our social media pages on Friday.

OUR 12 BEST INDEPENDENT SHOP SHORTLIST: