Coleraine and Newtownards scoop High Street of the Year award

Coleraine and Newtownards have jointly scooped this year’s High Street of the Year award.

While Wardens of Newtownards won the Overall Retailer of the Year award and Shauna Corrigan from McGrane’s in Keady being voted NI’ best retail employee.

Over ten thousand votes were cast for the Retail NI’s High Street Heroes awards, with old favourites and new faces picking up gold, silver, and bronze across a range of categories.

The initiative aims to shine a light on NI’s independent retailers, with the public getting to choose their favourite retailers in an online vote.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Lord Caine, who presented the award, said:

“I congratulate Coleraine and Newtownards on winning the prestigious High Street of the Year Award, which highlights how highly valued retailers in these areas are to their local communities.

“The UK Government is committed to making NI a better place to live, work, invest, and do business, and we will continue to support the growth of Northern Ireland’s high streets by building a stronger economy and through major investment such as the Levelling Up Fund and the upcoming UK Shared Prosperity Fund.”

Retail NI Chief Executive, Glyn Roberts branded the awards as a “wonderful celebration of Northern Ireland’s independent retailers."

He said: “The winners are based across Northern Ireland showing a brilliant regional response to the campaign and emphasising the community support for retailers.

“It has been a very difficult year for independent retailers, but this campaign has shone a light on how valued they are in their community, and the vital role they play in keeping the local economy alive. As they work to remain viable in this difficult business climate, it is only right that we celebrate and champion the sector.

“It is really good to see many independent retailers from some of our smaller rural towns getting the recognition they deserve at our High Street Hero Awards.”

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• high street
• northern ireland
• retail ni