Winners' Joy at Trafford Centre Awards (From Messenger Newspapers)

Winners' Joy at Trafford Centre Awards

7:26pm Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in News

A GLITTERING awards ceremony recognised the jewels in the crown of north west retail, as shops, restaurants and leisure venues were lauded at the sixth annual Trafford Centre Awards.

Staff from Selfridges celebrated after they won two awards, for Health and Beauty Store of the Year and Large Store of the Year.

Meanwhile, Marks & Spencer Home were recognised as the leading homeware store, in a short-list that also boasted John Lewis, Debenhams and Next Home.

The Newcomer of the Year Award went to the coffee experts at Nespresso for their first-ever high street store which opened earlier this year - in a category packed with big names including Banana Republic, Bertie and Burger King.

Arcadia Group romped home with a double win in fashion, taking both the coveted Menswear Store of the Year with Topman, plus the Ladieswear Store award with Topshop.

Meanwhile, Swarovski sparkled by winning the award for Jewellery Store of the Year, and a year of amazing sales growth helped Est Est Est snatch top restaurant from a field of contenders which included TGI Friday’s, Tampopo and Yo! Sushi.

Record votes.

More than 42,000 votes poured into The Trafford Centre offices in recent months, as customers proved eager to pay tribute to their favourite staff, stores, restaurants and entertainment venues.

And more than 400 guests attended the ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester, as the winners of 21 categories took to the stage to collect their prizes.

Director of operations for Capital Shopping Centres, Gordon McKinnon, said: “This has been another extraordinary year for the Trafford Centre, with new store openings, extensions, and a packed-out calendar of Olympic and Jubilee events. Despite difficult times faced by the retail sector in recent years, The Trafford Centre has gone from strength to strength, and tonight is about recognising the retailers and restaurants who make the Trafford Centre the success that it is.”

Highlights of the ceremony included two customer service awards, presented to Boots worker John Bintliff and John Lewis partner Lesley Yates, both of whom were described as having demonstrated outstanding customer service for their companies.

“Success”.

The hotly contested Entertainment Attraction of the Year Award went to LEGOLAND Discovery Centre at Barton Square, an interactive play experience for families based on the famous LEGO brick.

Speaking after the awards, Gordon McKinnon said: "Once again we've enjoyed a fantastic evening, during which we’ve been able to recognise and celebrate the stores, restaurants, leisure attractions and most importantly the people who make the Trafford Centre the extraordinary success that it is.

'I believe we offer a shopping experience like no other, with the very best staff in the world. It’s really important that we recognise the people who are our best asset.

'The record-breaking number of votes cast for these awards shows how important the Trafford Centre is to our customers. Competition for these prizes is strong - and the winners are justly delighted at their success this evening.”

A charity raffle during the evening raised more than £1000 for the Friends of Delamere School in Trafford, a centre for youngsters with special educational needs.

Full list of Trafford Centre Awards 2012 Winners.

HEALTH & BEAUTY STORE OF THE YEAR.

WINNER – Selfridges.

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Lush.

MENSWEAR STORE OF THE YEAR.

WINNER – Topman.

HIGHLY COMMENDED – Hugo Boss.

JEWELLERY STORE OF THE YEAR.

WINNER – Swarovski.

SPECIALIST STORE OF THE YEAR.

WINNER – Disney Store.

FOOTWEAR & ACCESSORIES STORE OF THE YEAR.

WINNER – Next Shoe Room.

HOMEWARE STORE OF THE YEAR.

WINNER – M&S Home.

LADIESWEAR STORE OF THE YEAR.

WINNER – Topshop.

FAST FOOD / SNACK OUTLET OF THE YEAR.

WINNER – Boost Juice Bars.

CAFÉ / COFFEE SHOP OF THE YEAR.

WINNER – Pret a Manger.

RESTAURANT / BAR OF THE YEAR.

WINNER – Est Est Est.

ENTERTAINMENT ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR.

WINNER – LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.

HIGHLY COMMENDED – NAMCO Funscape.

OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE - RETAIL.

WINNER – John Bintliff from Boots.

OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE – RESTAURANT/CAFE.

WINNER –Lesley Yates, from The Place to Eat (John Lewis).

STORE MANAGER OF THE YEAR.

WINNER – Lucy Allen from Topshop/Topman.

RESTAURANT MANAGER OF THE YEAR.

WINNER – Simon Bloss from Tampopo.

HIGHLY COMMENDED – Colin McLatchie from Millie’s Cookies.

WORLD CLASS CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD 2012.

WINNER – Bodyshop.

STORE DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR.

WINNER – Debenhams.

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Dune.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR.

WINNER - Nespresso.

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR AWARD.

WINNER – John Lewis.

LARGE STORE OF THE YEAR.

WINNER – SELFRIDGES.

THE RICHARD BONNER AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE TRAFFORD CENTRE.

WINNER – Mike Butterworth, Chief Operating Officer Capital Shopping Centres.