The 25 best small shops in the UK are announced

After hundreds of entrants, thousands of consumer votes and a panel of industry experts, the top 25 Best Small Shops in the UK have been announced and Bira member Arragons Cycle Centre, in Penrith is in the running.

Entries for the Best Small Shops competition opened on the 4th of July 2019, to coincide with Independent’s Day. Since then independent shops around the UK have had 10 weeks to submit their entry and gain as many consumer votes as possible before being evaluated by a judging panel made up of key figures from the independent retail industry.

About the Best Small Shops Competition

Independent retailers are the lifeblood of UK high streets, offering specialist products and services blended with unique knowledge and passion for their community. The Best Small Shops competition, managed by the Independent Retailers Confederation (IRC), of which Bira is a member, celebrates the commitment and creativity of independent retailers on the UK’s High Streets and the central role they play in their local area.

After successful campaigns in 2011, 2015 and 2018, the 2019 event promised to be even bigger and better than ever. The competition has been incredibly popular with hundreds of shops entering from all over the UK ranging from the Orkney Islands down to Devon and everywhere in between, giving a great representation of the small shops across the UK.

The competition was also promoted by 75 MPs and had a social media reach of over 1.1 million thanks to the variety of MPs, BIDs, shops and other community members sharing the competition.

The top 25 shortlisted retailers now have the fantastic opportunity to attend the competition reception held on the 5th of November at the House of Commons where they will meet with MPs, trade representatives and industry peers.

For more information about the Best Small Shops competition please visit their website, you can also find them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The 25 shortlisted shops