Three independent Chester businesses earn national award nominations

Three independent Chester businesses have been nominated for a national award.

Shrub, The Scented Garden Retreat, and Chester Boutique have been nominated for the UK's Favourite Local Business 2026.

The free-to-enter competition gives people the opportunity to nominate a favourite local business and explain why they think it deserves to be recognised.

A number of gift cards worth £2,000 are up for grabs, with the business receiving the most nominations nationally winning a £1000 town & city gift card.

Chester BID is also offering a £500 Chester gift card to the local business with the most nominations in the competition.

One local business to be nominated this year is Shrub, a plant-based restaurant on Eastgate Row. Co-founder Calum Adams described the nomination as "truly humbling", referring to it as a "testament to how the team deliver day in, day out".

Shrub was "a passion project from the start", he explained, with the owners striving to "create something the city was missing".

"Our ethos was always 'no preach, no apology' when it came to our plant-based menu," he added. "We aren't here to change diets but simply show that plant-based food can still be flavourful.

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"We have a firm belief we have to work even harder to win people over and impress, with a style a food some aren't used to."

Beyond the menu, Calum said the team's focus has always been on creating a place that people "really did want to work at", offering pay above minimum wage, "perks that people want", and a "team environment that fosters healthy conversation".

He added: "We have been lucky to have some great role models and bosses here in Chester, and they really did inspire us to make sure it felt a good place to be, a rewarding job for anyone who comes in the door.

"The passionate guys and girls behind the bar, on the floor and in the kitchen are the ones that make it a memorable experience for our guests."

Owner of Chester Boutique, Dawn Robinson, attributed her recent nomination to her "wonderful, loyal customers".

"I've never lost my passion for helping people find the right clothes for them," she said.

"I'm a people person and personally spend a lot of time with customers on the shop floor, offering the one to one attention that only a boutique like ours can offer.

"We get to know people over the years as friends, and we care. I'd rather someone leave the boutique with just one item they love and will continually wear than 5 items they're not sure about.

"Every item in the store I test myself because I want people to look nice and feel better about themselves, and good styling can do that."

Another business to be nominated, The Scented Garden Retreat, has been operating in the city for over 30 years, offering holistic therapies, skincare treatments and advanced skincare treatments across two locations.

Owner Laura Heywood said: "It is a huge honour to be nominated as the UK's Favourite Local Business by our customers.

"It is wonderful to see how the city is progressing, with new openings, events and more. It is such a vibrant place to be.

"I encourage everyone to take a moment to nominate their favourite business because small independent businesses work so hard, and having the feedback that they are appreciated means the world."

Introduced in 2020 by Chester BID, the Chester Gift Card can now be spent at more than 150 businesses across the city, including national and independent shops, restaurants, salons, hotels and services.

The Chester Gift Card is part of the multi-award winning Town & City Gift Cards concept from fintech Miconex.

Enter the UK's Favourite Local Business competition free at: www.lovelocalwin.co.uk until 30 November 2026.