Winners crowned in Solihull town centre business awards

Independent café The Woods were the big winners at the Solihull BID Excellence Awards on Friday night.

The enchanting High Street venue took home the Hospitality & Leisure Venue of the Year award at the gala evening at voco St John’s before winning the overall Outstanding Solihull Business of 2023.

Other winners at the Excellence Awards – kindly sponsored by Phoebus Software, Touchwood, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Veolia and Solihull College & University Centre – included the local St Alphege Neighbourhood Police who were named Outstanding Team of 2023.

Warwick Road-based Studio 7 Tattoos were crowned Best Independent Business, Best Customer Service went to Metro Bank and Touchwood claimed the Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility Project prize.

Charles Yearwood – who worked on Solihull town centre’s doors at venues including Rosie’s, Popworld and The Masons Arms for over 30 years – was recognised with the Outstanding Contribution to the Town Centre award.

The Young Person of the Year award, named after former Solihull College Principal John Callaghan, who sadly passed away in 2021, went to John Lewis’ Jack Docker.

Melanie Palmer, Chief Executive of Solihull BID, said: “It was the perfect celebration for our talented businesses and employees. A brilliant night which showcased the amazing businesses community spirit having lots of fun!”

The independent judges for this year’s Excellence Awards were: Sir Nigel Thrift, Chair of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management and Lead of the Solihull group of Deputy Lieutenants; Air Commodore Dr Marcia McLaughlin F.Birm.Soc.; Oli Hills, CEO of Nonsensical; Alethea Fuller, Deputy Chief Executive, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner and Andy Cole, Director for Property, Partnerships and Media at the NEC Group.

AWARDS WINNERS 2023

Hospitality & Leisure Venue of the Year

Winner – The Woods
Highly Commended – Solihull Summer Fest

Best Independent Business

Winner – Studio 7 Tattoos
Highly Commended – The Woods

Best Customer Service

Winner – Metro Bank
Highly Commended – Mint Velvet

The John Callaghan Award – Young Person of the Year

Winner – Jack Docker (John Lewis Solihull)
Highly Commended – Mitchell Watkins (Mell Square)

Outstanding Team of 2023

Winner – St Alphege Neighbourhood Policing Team
Highly Commended – John Lewis Solihull (Health & Wellbeing Team)
Highly Commended – HSBC

Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility Project

Winner – Touchwood
Highly Commended – Phoebus Software

Outstanding Contribution to the Town Centre

Winner – Charles Yearwood (Head Doorman of The Masons Arms)

Outstanding Solihull Business of 2023

Winner – The Woods