Report by Dan Clark, Hull Daily Mail
More than 100 people representing stores, businesses, hotels and restaurants in the city centre attended the event last night at Hull truck Theatre.
The Hull Business Improvement District (BID) Awards – in partnership with the Hull Daily Mail – recognised the best of city centre businesses and their staff.
A host of Hull Bid members descended on Hull Truck Theatre to find out the winners of each of the eight categories.
Speaking at the ceremony, HullBID city centre manager Kathryn Shillito said: "We are delighted that our first Hull Business Improvement District Awards was such a resounding success, achieving more than 250 nomination forms representing 88 individual businesses.
"The awards are one initiative of many Hull Bid delivers to showcase what an attractive and diverse city centre we have but, importantly, it is about our businesses benefiting from the recognition they receive."
Ms Shillito said Hull Bid created the awards to give its members a reason to celebrate their efforts.
She said: "We wanted to generate an air of excitement, a sense of team spirit and to celebrate the wonderful people who work every day in our shops, restaurants, offices and leisure outlets.
"The awards have helped our businesses recognise the importance of pulling together and appreciating they are part of a wide and flourishing community, which can only be a good thing."
Even though the awards are in their first year, more than 250 entries flooded in as customers nominated their favourite store and employees put forward their nominations to recognise the outstanding efforts of their colleagues.
People were able to nominate a business or employee in one of eight categories, which recognised a range of achievements, including exceptional customer service, business growth and outstanding efforts to ensure safety for store owners and shoppers.
Mail editor Neil Hodgkinson, who hosted the ceremony, highlighted the importance of city centre businesses in the recovery of the city.
He said: "The local economy continues to show endless examples of the talent and energy that brings numerous tales of success from our own business community.
"There are stories of entrepreneurial spirit and dogged determination from all quarters and from new names as well as the well-known.
"Everyone here tonight – and many who are not – demonstrate the fact that hard work does still bear fruit.
"It is not easy, but you are the building blocks of any recovery and the future of this city."
Members from all of the 24 finalists attended the awards ceremony to see eight winners of the Hull Bid Awards announced.
Cuckoos Café emerged as the big winners on the night, winning the Service With A Smile Award.
The café and restaurant fought off contenders in the form of Kelly O'Neill, of Hair@Quayside, and Rob Nicklas, of Thearne Pet Store, to be crowned as winners.
The award was the most hotly contested of all the categories, with 29 individual entries.
After judges whittled down the entries to shortlist three finalists, a secret shopper visited each of the businesses to determine the winner.
The judges said: "Well done to all our three finalists who were picked from dozens of smiling retailers, café staff and businesses across the city centre for offering that little bit of extra customer service. And what we all like to see, a smile.
"The staff at Cuckoos received a large number of nominations from the public both for individual staff and collectively. Well done to Cuckoos and all our finalists."
ClearView Eyewear was also announced as a winner by bagging the Best Business Start-up Award after opening its Paragon Street store exactly nine months to the day.
The shop was opened by Martin Johnson and James Shakesby, who had a desire to provide the people of Hull with affordable eyewear.
The judges said: "All three businesses deserved high recognition for establishing themselves in what has been a demanding time for retailers.
"However, ClearView's business was inspiring and bold, a company that represents the enterprise that we hope can drive Hull city centre forward."
Pictured: HullBID City Centre Manager Kathryn Shillito (left) with BID Chairman Jim Harris, Hull Daily Mail Editor Neil Hodgkinson and Pauline Speed, Manager of the Love You 2 Appeal (picture by Kate Woolhouse/ Hull Daily Mail)
See the gallery of photographs
THE WINNERS
*Safe City Award*
Winner: Lee Gosling, Trinity Market.
Finalists: Phil Woods & Ibis Hotel staff, Lee Nicholas and Guy Toland, Leonardo's Bistro Bar.
*Pavement Pride Award*
Winner: Hull Truck Theatre.
Finalists: Burstalls Solicitors and Greggs, Whitefriargate.
*Outstanding Employee or Team Award*
Winner: Ibis Hotel.
Finalists: Stuf and George Hotel.
*Service With a Smile Award*
Winner: Cuckoos café and restaurant.
Finalists: Kelly O'Neill, Hair@Quayside and Rob Nicklas, Thearne Pet Store.
*Best Business Start-Up Award*
Winner: ClearView Eyewear.
Finalists: Fit24 Hull and George Hotel.
*Community Spirit Award*
Winner: Hull Trinity House.
Finalists: Trinity Open Market and New Look, Whitefriargate.
*Outstanding Business Development Award*
Winner: Leonardo's Bistro Bar.
Finalists: Pasikonik and First Hull Trains.
*City Ambassador Award*
Winner: Julie Buffey, Roisin Dubh.
Finalists: Shaun Marshall, Hull Tourist Information and Hull museums and galleries front of house staff
