Seven Wantage town centre businesses are celebrating success in the district’s annual Local Business Awards. People in Wantage and Grove had chance to vote for their favourite local independent business as part of the district’s celebration of Small Business Saturday. Sponsored by Wantage & District Chamber of Commerce and organised by town team co-ordinator, Mim Norvell, the awards gave people chance to vote for their favourite Wantage and Grove indie business in four categories: Exceptional Customer Service, Best Shop Front, Best Restaurant and Best Pub. Leading the Exceptional Customer Service category was Sarah Kerr’s beauty salon, Room for Beauty on Grove Street, with Julie Trinder’s Wantage Pilates Studio, Highly Commended. Sarah (pictured with Chamber Secretary, Gurmukh Randhawa, left, and Town Mayor, St John Dickson) says: “I am incredibly proud to have won this award. My clients mean the world to me, and they are the reason why I love my job so much. I would like to thank them for their continued support.” Best Restaurant was The Bear Hotel, which also secured Highly Commended in the Best Pub category won by The King Alfred's Head. Yummy Thai Restaurant collected the Best Restaurant, Highly Commended. The Best Kept Shop Front category was won by Snob & Lock on Grove Street, with Peter Casey Jewellers, Highly Commended. The four business award winners receive a certificate and a £50 voucher to be claimed against advertising and/or marketing costs. The winner of the £50 draw among the Wantage & Grove Loyalty Scheme members who completed the competition questionnaire is Wendy Loving, whose entry was the one picked out by Margaret O'Donohoe, co-owner of the new Madhatter Bookshop on Mill Street. Wendy wins a £50 voucher to be spent with local Loyalty Scheme businesses of her choice, and has asked to be able to share the money between Ridgeway Cycles and Umami Delicatessen. Wantage & District Chamber of Commerce Secretary, Gurmukh Randhawa, said: “Congratulations to all the winners of our Small Business Saturday Local Business Awards. It's great to see that some of the winners of previous years are again on the best list, along with some being recognised for the first time. Thank you to the people of Wantage and the surrounding areas for taking the time to support your local independents.” The Mayor of Wantage, Cllr St John Dickson, said: “I was delighted to present the awards this year; the competition was fierce and it was fantastic to see all the different shops, service businesses, pubs and restaurants that had received nominations and votes from the public. Wantage is blessed with such a wide selection of high quality candidates; I congratulate not only the winners but also all the others that go that extra mile to make Wantage such a thriving market town.” Cllr Matthew Barber, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “The Wantage community has really pulled together over the last couple of years to help ensure the town centre thrives. The business awards help to recognise just a few of the many traders who play a big part in making the town a great place to shop, eat and drink.” Loyalty cards can be purchased from loyalty scheme member businesses. For further information, please visit the Wantage & Grove Loyalty Card website . Wantage Town Team is part of a town vitality initiative being delivered by the Vale of White Horse District Council, Wantage Town Council, Grove Parish Council and Wantage & District Chamber of Commerce through the Wantage Joint Economic Forum (JEF), supported by Town Team Co-ordinators Mim Norvell and Iain Nicholson.