Four independent businesses in the Worcester area have won prestigious local lifestyle awards.

The winners of the Muddy Stiletto Awards 2021 for Worcestershire and Gloucestershire were announced on Thursday July 29, and the Worcester area is well-represented.  

This year was unlike any other and as such Muddy Stiletto’s regional editor Sophie Tweedale believes the awards are the perfect way to “celebrate the creativity, uniqueness and sheer stick-it-out bravery” of rural businesses.

With over 75,000 businesses nominated and three-quarter of a million votes cast, competition was fierce.

One of the area winners was Broomfields of Holt, which claimed the best farm shop/deli award. 

Fiona Broomfield was delighted with the prize, which was much deserved after an especially difficult year.

She said: “We must remember that our success is built on the shoulders of my late father-in-law, Maurice Broomfield, who opened the farm shop in the 70s and my late husband, Colin Broomfield, who worked so hard before his recent untimely death, he implemented all of our recent changes. I dedicate this award in memory of them both.”

Tina Donkin, of Headlight Fitness, Worcester, picked up the award for best fitness instructor. 

She said: "It has been a rough ride but I wouldn’t change a thing. The support from all of my customers has been unreal. They are no longer my customers, they are my friends and HeadLight Fitness is a wonderful family. This award belongs to them as much as it does to me."

Elsewhere, Cornucopia, located in Crowngate shopping centre, added yet another award to its cabinet, picking up best interiors store.

A staff member said: “We always felt the need to have faith in that we would survive the uncertainty and difficulties that the pandemic presented. To have made it through three lockdowns and to come out the other end and win this award feels incredible.”

There was also success for Anja Potze and Felicity Regent, who picked up the award for best jewellery store, Anja Potze Fine Jewellery, which is on Friar Street. 

They said: “Our online presence has been the key to our success, and we are lucky to have fantastic support from our loyal customers who have kept us going.”