All the local businesses you voted 'Your Favourite 2023'

As voting is now open for the 2024 awards, we've rounded up all winners from 2023.

Wok's Cooking in Rickmansworth was one of the first 2023 winners when it was voted our readers' favourite Chinese in April. 

The takeaway is run by husband and wife Kevin and Sue Tao, who said the staff were very surprised and happy to receive the title.

Kevin said: "We had a lot of customers congratulate us on the award."

The Tasty Bean Café in Oxhey Activity Park was also crowned the 'Best Coffee Shop & Café' in May, with co-directors Jerome and Jayne Enskat receiving the award.

Jerome said: “It was a great award to win and the team were really chuffed.

"Great recognition of the hard work that everybody puts in to make it a friendly and community-focused café for local people."

Jerome said the award has raised their profile locally and with customers coming to try the café after hearing about the award.

Co-directors Jerome and Jayne Enskat (Fourth and Third from R) with the Tasty Bean Cafe team last year. (Image: Tasty Bean Cafe)

Shantock Nurseries' manager Stephanie Cotton said it was a "big surprise" when the family-run garden centre in Hemel Hempstead was voted the 'Best Garden Centre' last August.

Shantock Nurseries was voted by the Watford Observer readers as ‘Your Favourite Garden Centre 2023’. (Image: Shantock Nurseries)

The nursery has bounced back after losing 75 per cent of its stock during the pandemic. (Image: Shantock Nurseries)The White Lion pub in St Albans Road, Watford, won the 'Best Pub' award. 

Sean Byrne, who runs the boozer with his wife Ausra, said they were "elated" when they heard the news.

Sean and Ausra receiving the award for Best Pub. (Image: The White Lion)

The team at the White Lion last year. (Image: The White Lion)

Hannah’s Health and Beauty Salon in Chorleywood was also named 'Best Health & Beauty Salon' by our readers. 

Salon owner Hannah Giles thanked her "incredible therapists" for their work over the years.

Hannah and her team celebrating their win. (Image: Hannah Giles)

The owners of a Watford hairdressers said they were "ecstatic" when they learnt they were voted "Best Hairdressers" in October.

Hair Connections, in Market Street, is run by sisters Carol and Sophie Andrea, and has traded in Watford for 46 years.

Carol said: "We have had lots of new clients since winning and it has been very rewarding.

"If it wasn’t for our clients, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We can’t thank them enough."

Hair Connections won the Your Favourite award for best hair salon. (Image: Carol Andrea)

The team at Master Cut in Courtlands Drive, Watford, said they were "delighted" to win the 'Best Barbers' title in the last round of 'Your Favourite 2023' competition.

Co-owner Simon Komurtu said: "We would like to thank all of our loyal customers that have been supporting us ever since we have opened and it really means the world to us to win the competition."

The full results:

Best Gym - Watford Leisure Centre Central

Best Chinese - Wok’s Cookin

Best Coffee Shop & Cafe - Tasty Bean Café

Best Garden Centre or Nursery - Shantock Nurseries

Best Pub - White Lion

Best Health & Beauty Salon - Hannah's Health & Beauty

Best Chippy - Sea Pebbles

Best Hairdressers - Hair Connections

Best Restaurant - Blue Check

Best Barbers - Master Cut

Going into 2024, we are keeping the ‘Your Favourite’ competitions alive and kicking with even more opportunities for local businesses to get involved.

Look out for some new themes coming your way in 2024 including Volunteer of the Year.

Nominations for your favourite Gym opened on January 1 online and in print for two weeks.

Good luck to all local businesses and again thanks for your support and participation in the competitions.