WIREDGOV

The Great British High Streets competition has today revealed the nation’s best high streets.

Twenty-one finalists across the competitions 7 categories now have the chance to impress an expert judging panel and battle it out in the public vote to be crowned Britain’s best.

Winners in each category will get a share of a prize pot worth £80,000, which includes expert training and tailor-made tips from Google’s training taskforce for one hundred of their shops, bars and restaurants.

High Streets Minister Marcus Jones said:

”We had a record amount of high-quality entries to this year’s competition – testament to the pride local people have and brilliant work being done to boost Britain’s high streets.

The local high street is the life and soul of many towns, villages and cities across the country and these awards are a great opportunity to not only celebrate those that are the best of the best, but also to help others learn their valuable tips for success.

If you cherish the hard work going on in your local high street, then show your support and get voting.”

Finalists

The top 3 finalists in each category that have gone through to the public vote are:

City

• St Giles Street, Northampton
• Mill Road, Cambridge
• North Parade, Bradford​

Coastal Communities

• Prestatyn
• Bognor Regis
• Amble​

Local Centre

• Faulkner Street Hoole, Chester
• Bishy Road, York
• Bath Place, Taunton​

London

• Raynes Park
• Pitshanger Lane, Ealing
• Roman Road, Tower Hamlets​

Market Town

• Chipping Norton
• Helmsley
• Colne​

Town Centre

• Rotherham
• Altrincham
• Tamworth​

Village

• Brigg, Lincolnshire
• Twyford, Berkshire
• West Kilbride, North Ayrshire​

The 5 best high streets in each category have been named on the GB High streets website. Only the top 3 in each category goes through to the public vote.

The Great British High Street Competition 2015 – sponsored by Boots, Costa, Post Office, Marks and Spencer and Tesco – is now in its second year and is one of a number of initiatives to help champion high streets as the cornerstones of the community.

These include a billion pound package of investment ranging from targeted business rate discounts, sensible planning changes and action that reins in over-zealous parking practices.

This year’s competition saw a record 230 applicants and now, for the first time, the public has the chance to vote directly for their best-loved high street online. Between now and November you can cast your vote for free at the Great British High Street webpage or on Facebook.

The first Great British High Street competition last year saw 135 communities battle it out to be crowned the nation’s best. Belper in Derbyshire emerged as the overall winner. Belper found that winning not only boosted town pride, but also had a tangible economic impact with retailers reporting increased footfall.

Alongside the public’s votes shortlisted towns will also be inspected by the Future High Streets Forum judging panel – made up of industry leaders from across retail, property and business.

Simon Roberts, Executive Vice President of Walgreens Boots Alliance and President of Boots, and Future High Streets Forum Co-Chairman said:

”This year’s competition has once again showcased the innovation that’s going on in high streets to make them the ‘go to’ destination for all.

High streets are adapting to ensure they remain great places to shop, live and visit and I’m delighted that once again the Great British High Streets competition gives us the chance to celebrate and learn from the very best that can be achieved through committed and strong local partnership.”

This year’s competition also sees prizes for towns that have become ‘rising stars’, or local people and special recognition awards to people or places that have made an invaluable contribution to their local high streets. To go online to cast your vote, visit the Great British High Street website and follow @TheGBHighSt on Twitter.

Voting closes in November.

Further information

The Great British High Street competition is run by the Department for Communities and Local Government and sponsored by Boots, Costa, Post Office, Marks and Spencer and Tesco.

The Google Digital Garage on Tour is a workshop which includes sessions for businesses on finding and keeping customers online and the chance to have one-to-one consultations with Google specialists to chat through their businesses digital needs.

For more information or to vote for your high street visit the Great British High Street website.