Richmond business owners came together at The Station Café|Bar last week for a celebration of their ongoing contribution to the town and the visitor economy of North Yorkshire. Award recipients spanned the generations at an event which also included employees, volunteers, tourist attractions, award sponsors and local dignitaries.
The awards are organised by the Original Richmond Business and Tourism Association (ORBTA), in collaboration with The Company of Mercers, Grocers and Haberdashers of Richmond (Yorkshire) and North Yorkshire Council.
Russell Lord, Clerk to the Charitable Trust of the Mercers, was Master of Ceremonies. The awards were presented by David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire who was aided by Marcia McLuckie BEM, the Chair of the Judging Panel. In his address the Mayor spoke warmly about Richmond and its capacity to secure further development through its Town Investment Plan.
The judges had particularly difficult decisions to make this year as they received a record number of entries. The recipients of the Richmond Business Awards 2026 are:
Environmental Award, sponsored by The Company of Fellmongers
Winner: Nourished
Highly Commended: Goosewing Studios and St Michael’s Lodge
Best New Business Award, sponsored by Zetland Estates
Winner: Browns of Richmond Ltd
Highly Commended: Rejuvenate Lifestyle and Wellbeing and The Easby-Loop Café
Best Customer Focus Award, sponsored by Yorsafety
Winner: Charlotte Jacqueline School of Dance
Highly Commended: Just Wheels Ltd and Market Place Travel
Best Dog Friendly Establishment Award, sponsored by Yorsafety
Winner: The Fleece Hotel
Highly Commended: Granny’s Kitchen, Mocha and St Michael’s Lodge
Best Sole Trader Award, sponsored by Purple Creative Studio
Winners: A S Joinery and The Easby-Loop Café
Highly Commended: MaidInTheDales – Domestic Cleaning Services and Miss Merritt English Online
Best Marketing Award, sponsored by Richmond Information Centre
Winner: The Station Cinema
Highly Commended: J&H Meynells and Trouvere
Window on the World Award, sponsored by North Yorkshire Council
Winner: The Little Dress Shop
Highly Commended: BbinFinkle Interiors and Dot’s Place
Accessibility Award, sponsored by Home Instead
Winner: The Station – Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust
Highly Commended: St Michael’s Lodge and The Station Cinema
Outstanding Employee Award, sponsored by Richmond Rotary Club
Winner: Mary Horncastle of The Station Café|Bar
Highly Commended: Sally Anderson of The Station Café|Bar and Debbie Redfern of Roots and Shoots Florist
The Dennis Graves Award for Young Person of the Year, sponsored by Mocha
Winner: Freya Ball of Charlotte Jacqueline School of Dance
Highly Commended: Ruben Anderson of The Station Café|Bar and Nic Perks of The Easby-Loop Café
Business to Business Award, sponsored by Market Place Travel
Winner: Richmond Print
Highly Commended: Eyecatching Signs and Yvonne Finn Graphic Design
Best Innovation Award, sponsored by The Herriot Country Tourism Group
Winner: St Michael’s Lodge
Highly Commended: Low Impact Forestry Limited and The Green Howards Museum
Best Employer Award, sponsored by Richmond Yorkshire CIC
Winners: Market Place Travel and RBPT Enterprises (The Station Café|Bar and The Sweet Stop)
Highly Commended: Cooper & Leatherbarrow
Star Awards
Winners: Ruben Anderson of The Station Café|Bar, Sally Anderson of The Station Café|Bar and Debbie Redfern of Roots and Shoots Florist
Tourism Award: Hospitality and Retail, sponsored by Visit North Yorkshire
Winner: The Fleece Hotel
Highly Commended: Kiplin Hall and Gardens, RPBT Enterprises (The Station Café|Bar and The Sweet Stop) and St Michael’s Lodge
Tourism Award: Visitor Attractions, Leisure Venues, Festivals and Events, sponsored by Visit North Yorkshire
Winner: Kiplin Hall and Gardens
Highly Commended: Medieval Music in the Dales, The Georgian Theatre Royal and The Station
The David Doorbar Award for Excellence
Winner: Nic Perks – The Easby-Loop Café
The Community Campaigner Award, sponsored by The Company of Fellmongers
Recipient: Save Our Swale
The Richmond Service Award
Recipients: Arthur Caygill and John Meynell
The Jewel in the Crown Award
Recipient: The Georgian Theatre Royal
The Spirit of the Community Award
Recipient: Donald Cline
The Richmond Beacon Award, sponsored by The Company of Fellmongers
Recipient: Mike Sheehan – Altberg Bootmakers
ORBTA, The Company of Mercers, Grocers and Haberdashers of Richmond (Yorkshire) and North Yorkshire Council extend their thanks to everyone who participated in the Richmond Business Awards 2026.
Photos: chrisbooth.photos