Rutland and Melton's new favourite independent shops are here

Oakham has four runners up in the competition run by Rutland's MP

Author: Ellis MaddisonPublished 17th Feb 2022
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.”

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