Judging underway for prestigious annual Great Yarmouth Town Centre Awards

The 2025 awards, run in conjunction with the Town Centre Business Improvement District and supported by Great Yarmouth Borough Council, will see a panel of judges visiting shops and businesses to draw up a shortlist of finalists.

Judges will be scoring on criteria including shop frontage and first impressions; cleanliness and lack of clutter on doors and windows; and window displays. Stalls in the Six-Day Market are also included.

Hugh Sturzaker, chairman of the civic society, said: ''The annual Town Centre awards are an excellent opportunity for us to recognise the people going above and beyond to improve the look and experience for shoppers and visitors using our shopping area.

''The Civic Society of Great Yarmouth wants to promote and enhance the heart of our town centre by publicly recognising the effort that so many businesses make with their shop, stall and business frontages to benefit our community.''

There are five categories in the awards:

·       Retail, including national, independent and charity shop sub-categories

·       Food and drink establishments, with national and independent sub-categories

·       Services, including estate agents, banks, building societies etc

·       Personal services such as hairdressers, nail bars, tanning studios etc

·       Market stalls in the Six-Day Market

Following a visual audit by judges this month, the finalists in each category will be informed and given a window sticker to display.

Finalists will then attend an awards ceremony taking place at the Town Hall in July and sponsored by Great Yarmouth Borough Council and Great Yarmouth Town Centre Partnership.

The overall winner will receive a trophy and the winners of each category will receive a framed certificate.