Rutland and Melton's new favourite independent shops are here
Oakham has four runners up in the competition run by Rutland's MP
Last updated 17th Feb 2022
The winners and runners-up of the Rutland and Melton Favourite Independent Shop awards have been revealed, and four of them are in Oakham!
The competition, ran by Rutland and Melton MP Alicia Kearns, had almost a hundred nominations for best shop, and thousands of votes too.
See the full list of winners and runners-up:
OVERALL WINNER
Winner - Foxy Lots - Melton
Beauty and Pampering
Winner - The Beauty Studio - Melton
Runner Up – Beauty Box - Melton
Butcher
Winner - Derek Jones – Melton
Runner Up – Leeson’s Butchers - Oakham
Cafe
Winner - Off the Beaten Path – Melton
Runner Up – Potting Shed Café - Melton
Children and Babies
Winner - Little Rayn - Melton
Runner Up – Melton Toys - Melton
Clothing and Accessories
Winner - Baubles and Bangles – Melton
Runner Up - White Boutique - Melton
Craft and Hobby
Winner - Wool Zone - Melton
Runner Up – Eco Emporium - Rutland
Farm and Produce
Winner - Hilltop Farm Shop – Melton
Runner Up – Farmer Lou’s - Melton
Food and Drink
Winner - Melton Cheeseboard - Melton
Runner Up - Hambleton Bakery - Oakham
Gifts and Stationary
Winner - Foxy Lots - Melton
Runner Up – Luna Rayn - Melton
Home and Garden
Winner - Grange Garden Centre - Melton
Runner Up - Gates Garden Centre - Cold Overton
Other
Winner – Melton Sports – Melton
Runner Up – Rutland Late Night Pharmacy - Oakham
Shops that deserve the recognition
Bethan Lambie from Rutland Late Night Pharmacy, one of Oakham's four runners-up, said her shop goes the extra mile for their customers, and that it's nice to be recognised for their efforts.
"It's a great place to work, I wouldn't have been here ten years if it wasn't", she said.
"We have a great team behind us who all strive for the same thing - and that's good customer service, getting patients what they need when they need it."
"It's really nice that somebody's thought of us and thought that we're doing a great job, that obviously always boosts the morale, and makes us all feel quite nice.
"We've been running a Covid clinic here as well, we've been able to vaccinate first, second, third, boosters - you name it we've been doing it in our hub next to the shop, and we've had some great volunteers helping with that and some lovely extra staff coming in."
Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Melton, said:
“I’ve been struck by how much love there is in our communities for shops – and the stories that residents have told me about how important these institutions are to their communities really show how special our area is.
“People reporting the death of the High Street are very much wrong – it’s with shops like these show that the heart of our communities.”