Seven Welsh high streets have been shortlisted in this year’s Great British High Street Awards 2018, sponsored by Visa, putting them in the running to win a £15,000 prize.
After a rigorous selection process led by a panel of independent judges, four Welsh high streets have been shortlisted in the Champion category, which aims to find the UK’s best high street, while three high streets in Wales have been shortlisted in the Rising Star category, which aims to find the UK’s most ambitious high streets.
Shortlisted Welsh high streets – Champion Award
- Holywell, Flintshire
- Welshpool, Powys
- Crickhowell, Powys
- Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire
Shortlisted Welsh high streets – Rising Star Award
- Cardigan, Ceredigion
- Narberth, Pembrokeshire
- Cowbridge, Glamorgan
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The shortlisted high streets will now battle it out in a public vote, which accounts for 30 per cent of the final scoring, and will then have the chance to impress an expert judging panel as they seek to be crowned Britain’s best. Those interested in participating in the public vote can visit www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk for more information.
The winning entries for both the Champion and Rising Star categories will be announced on 15 November 2018 at an awards ceremony in London.
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The bid for the Rising Star and Champion Awards followed research commissioned by Visa, sponsor of the 2018 Great British High Street Awards, which revealed promising signs of renewed confidence in the country’s high streets despite a challenging retail environment.
The research from Visa found that more than half of the nation’s independent high street retailers interviewed are optimistic about the future of their local high street, whilst four out of five shoppers would miss their local high street if it was no longer there.
High Streets Minister Jake Berry MP said:
“Congratulations to all seven Welsh high streets shortlisted for this year’s Great British High Street Awards. The awards celebrate the great work that is being done to revive, adapt and diversify the nation’s high streets and the quality of entries this year has been outstanding.
“Over the next six weeks they have the chance to impress an expert judging panel as they also battle it out in a public vote for the title of Britain’s best high street. This is a great opportunity to show your support for the hard work taking place on our high streets, so get voting.”
Sundeep Kaur, Head of UK & Ireland Merchant Services at Visa, added:
“At a time when the nation’s high streets are transforming, this year’s Great British High Street Awards shortlist contains some fantastic examples of high streets and merchants which are evolving and embracing change to attract visitors. It is genuinely heartening to see so many businesses and communities that are harnessing their adaptability, resilience and creativity to offer the services and experiences that today’s shoppers want.”
The Great British High Street Awards 2018, which are being run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, sponsored by Visa and backed by other partners, is recognising and celebrating local achievements on our high streets and supporting the communities in which we live and work.
The initiative includes a competition to find the nation’s best high streets, with one winner being named in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for each of the two categories: the Champion and Rising Star Awards. An overall winner will also be named.
In 2016, Blackburn in Lancashire was crowned the Great British High Street winner thanks to the determination of the community and local businesses who worked in partnership to drive improvements and overcome the challenges their high street was facing.
