WHO makes St Helens’ best roast dinner, pizza or afternoon tea?
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 2023 competition to find the best that the area has to offer in 23 different categories.
Each week, readers nominated their favourite cafés, gyms and pubs as well as fish chip shops, beer gardens and fitness instructors and we put together a shortlist of the most popular places announcing an overall winner for each category voted by you, the readers.
The winners have all been featured in the St Helens Star over the past few weeks but as 2023 comes to an end, we decided to take a look back and find out how they each took one of the Best of 2023 crowns.
Here are the 23 winners in St Helens:
Hair by Alice Michelle
ALICE Wareing has been working in salons since she was 13 years old, clearly passionate about the hair and beauty industry.
Fast forward 15 years and the 28-year-old was been crowned St Helens’ Best for Hair 2023 our first Best of 2023 winner.
Alice’s business Hair by Alice Michelle is based inside The Secret Halo on Boundary Road – last year’s winner of the Best for Hair title.
Blackburn's
IF it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
If you have the perfect recipe for delicious pies that’s been keeping customers happy for more than 80 years, why change it?
Mouth-wateringly delicious pies were first served at Blackburns in 1942 and they’re officially the best in St Helens.
Kreative Kirsty
WHEN Kirsty Hackers launched her beauty business nine years ago, little did she know how many of her clients would become lifelong friends.
And she could never have predicted that they’d vote for her to win St Helens’ Best for Nails 2023.
But that’s exactly what they’ve done with Kreative Kirsty Beauty Therapy officially the place to go if you want picture-perfect nails.
The Brown Edge Pub
WHEN it comes to roast dinners, it’s all about the gravy!
It needs to be homemade and there needs to be lots of it on a roast dinner.
The Brown Edge Pub have clearly perfected their recipe as they won St Helens’ Best for Roast Dinner for the second time!
The Townhouse
THERE were double celebrations at The Townhouse as staff and regulars marked the bar’s second birthday and raised a glass to being named St Helens Best for Cocktails 2023!
The Duke Street bar, which opened its doors in May 2021 when Covid-19 restrictions eased, fought off tough competition from other pubs and bars to take the latest Best of 2023 title with Cinema Bar – last year’s Best Pub – coming a close second.
Shakey J's
WHEN it comes to breakfast, you can’t go wrong with a full English – fried eggs, sausages and bacon with hash browns, beans and toast.
But could you manage three of everything? Could you stomach Shakey J’s award-winning mega breakfast?
Shakey J’s opened its doors in 2016 selling milkshakes and desserts to take away but after several years of deliveries and late nights, owner Christopher Jackson and his partner Claire decided to relocate to bigger premises.
Ashley-James Ward and team
WITH more than 20 years in the fitness industry, Ashley-James Ward knows a thing or two about working out and keeping fit and healthy.
And the owner of Award Health and Fitness took St Helens’ Best for Fitness 2023 title, doing the double after securing last year’s title in the competition.
The 38-year-old opened his first gym in September 2018 on Lea Green Business Park but they quickly outgrew the premises and moved to College Street the following year and then onto The Barge Business Park on Merton Bank Road in September 2021.
Paul's Fishbar
SERVING top quality fish and chips every day is no mean feat but Rohin Soni has clearly got the recipe for success.
Rohin is the proud owner of Paul’s Fishbar in St Helens, which has been crowned Best for Fish and Chips 2023 after the venue battered the competition from nine other fish and chip plaices.
Paul’s Fishbar on Bowness Avenue served up a winning portion of the English favourite, taking the St Helens title.
White Rabbit Tattoo Studio
GETTING new ink is a big decision so it’s important to feel comfortable with your tattooist and have confidence in their ability.
Vicky Jackson, who goes by the name of Victoria Kay on social media, has clearly mastered these skills as her loyal clients voted in force for her to win our latest Best of 2023 award – Best for Tattoos – and Vicky couldn’t be happier.
Vicky’s White Rabbit Tattoo Studio on Dalehead Place beat off competition from 11 other tattooists and tattoo studios taking our 10th Best of 2023 crown.
Vicky opened the business in 2018 at the shopping promenade in Clinkham Wood having grown up in Carr Mill on an estate very close to her shop.
Dial A Pizza
AFTER making pizza and pasta for more than three decades, everyone at Dial A Pizza clearly has the recipe for success.
And the talented team at the Sutton Oak Drive venue led by joint owners John Jones and Steven Neild are celebrating this week after taking the latest Best of 2023 award – St Helens’ Best for Pizza.
John and Steven opened Dial A Pizza in March 1990 moving to live in the town shortly afterwards.
They serve a wider range of pizzas as well as beef burgers, kebabs and barbecue ribs employing 15 members of staff and open seven days a week.
Click here to read morehttps://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/23623053.three-decades-delivering-perfect-pizzas-heart-st-helens/
The Dog House
A PET stylist was celebrating after being named St Helens Star’s Best for Pets 2023 – and the animals she cares for were barking in agreement!
Laura Owen started The Dog House in August 2021, with the business just marking its second anniversary, and she considers herself a pet stylist rather than a dog groomer.
The vast majority of her clients visit the salon for spa treatments but she also offers micro chipping, ultra sound scans and teeth cleaning.
Stone Tyres
NOBODY at St Helens’ Best Independent Business will tire of providing outstanding customer service and fitting first class products.
St Helens Star readers voted in their hundreds for the town’s Best Independent Shop or Business and Stone Tyres was the runaway winner.
John Stone opened the business in January 2016 starting off in a small council unit on Moorfoot Road in Parr before relocating to College Street in St Helens as tenants in 2018 and buying the premises two years ago.
Antonia's Cakes
THERE’S a sweet smell of success coming from Antonia’s Cakes as they’ve scooped back-to-back awards for their delicious desserts.
Lauren King launched her home-based cake making business in 2015 before moving to the Duke Street premises in 2020.
The talented baker won last year’s Best for Dessert award and did the double, winning St Helens’ 2023 search to find the tastiest treats in town.
Chantel Louise
SEEING the smiles on clients’ faces as they leave the salon is the best part of Chantel Louise Galavan’s job.
And there’s a huge smile on the young beautician’s face as she’s celebrating being named St Helens’ Best for Beauty 2023 securing back-to-back award wins.
The 23-year-old is self-employed and based at Salon 154 in Thatto Heath, which is owned by Nikki Kelly, and Chantel Louise has her own nail desk as well as a beauty room where she’s able to do treatments like eyelashes, facials and waxings and she also has a separate makeup room.
Jo Jingles
FRAN Harrop has been entertaining babies, toddlers and their parents for nearly three decades with the help of Jo Jingles.
She’s even got customers returning to her classes with the smallest members of their families having sung and danced with Fran during their own formative years.
Jo Jingles was the worthy winner of our latest Best of 2023 award – Best for Kids – and Fran couldn’t be happier.
Fran runs classes in venues throughout St Helens, Wigan and Warrington having started 27 years ago with her first one in Eccleston.
Ruskin
WITH £1 million investment and state-of-the-art facilities, Ruskin Fitness Club is the number one fitness destination in St Helens
And the Ruskin Drive venue has just triumphed in our latest competition to find the Best Gym in St Helens.
Stephen Palfrey is the joint owner and manager of the venue having taken over from Pilkington’s in 2011 with a gym being on Ruskin Drive since the early 1990s.
The Dam
WITH picturesque views of Carr Mill Dam, not much beats a cold drink outside in the sunshine at The Dam.
The venue, which won last year’s Best Beer Garden in St Helens, has just done the double and scooped this year’s title as it continues to be the number one destination for a drink and a bite to eat al fresco.
Terri Anne Beddow owns the venue on Garswood Road, Carr Mill Dam, which was previously called The Boathouse until it changed to The Dam in August last year.
Nirvana Coffee Shop
WHERE serves the best afternoon tea in St Helens?
Nirvana Coffee Shop – it’s the number one place to go if you want tasty afternoon treats of freshly made sandwiches, cakes and scones with clotted cream.
Lindsey Pye has been the owner of Nirvana Coffee Shop on Lowfield Lane since she first opened the doors in November 2016.
Shakey J's
WHEN it comes to ordering a burger at Shakey J’s, customers are spoilt for choice – which of the award-winning classics should you try first?
And the Newton-le-Willows venue has scooped not one but two Best of 2023 awards.
Hot on the heels of picking up the award for its fantastic breakfasts, Shakey J’s has added Best for Burgers to the list of accolades.
Shakey J’s opened its doors in 2016 selling milkshakes and desserts to take away but after several years of deliveries and late nights, owner Christopher Jackson and his partner Claire decided to relocate to bigger premises.
Nirvana Coffee Shop
NIRVANA Coffee Shop – the award-winning venue selling tasty afternoon treats and where customers become friends.
What more could you ask for in a coffee shop?
Hot on the heels of scooping St Helens’ Best for Afternoon Tea at the end of August, Lindsey Pye and her hard-working team are celebrating after Nirvana Coffee Shop took a second Best of 2023 title.
Balti Spice
ST HELENS’ number one curry restaurant is like a “home from home” where customers feel like part of the family.
And if you’ve never visited Balti Spice, you’re simply a friend they haven’t met yet.
The Duke Street venue, owned by Steve Chowdhury, is St Helens’ Best for Curry 2023 – successfully taking the title for the second year in a row.
Steve worked in several local restaurants before opening the Duke Street venue in 2008.
The Millhouse
NIC Wilson and Aidan Gill have clearly made a good impression in Sutton.
Just 12 months after taking over at the pumps at The Millhouse on Mill Lane the couple can say they own St Helens’ Best Pub 2023 and they’ll be raising a glass with customers this weekend to celebrate.
Aidan and Nic took over at The Millhouse just over a year ago in May 2022.
The couple, who both grew up in Fingerpost, wanted to run a family-orientated great British pub in the heart of Sutton keeping local people at its heart.
Newton Grill
NEWTON Grill opened its doors less than 12 months ago but it’s made a fantastic first impression with customers.
Before owners Gareth Hughes, Mo Zaki and Ste Tunstall have been able to celebrate the Newton-le-Willows business’ first birthday, they’ve won our final Best of 2023 award – St Helens Star’s Best Restaurant 2023 – and they couldn’t be happier or prouder of everything they’ve achieved over the past year.
Gareth, Mo and Ste opened Newton Grill on Wargrave Road in December last year – a family-run business that provides much needed comfort food for its hungry customers.
They offer breakfast, brunch, lunch and evening meals in a relaxed and comfortable environment and they also provide healthy meal prep for people wanting to eat at home.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here