special message EXETER LIVING AWARDS )ll the stories from the night, including our amabing winners

EXETER LIVING AWARDS 2020

This year as every year, nothing beat being there. Join us for the highlights of this year’s gong show, and we’ll see you in 2021...

As we fi nd ourselves in the current grip of Coronavirus, recognising the achievements of local businesses and showing them support seems more important than ever. And so it was that Exeter Living’s fi fth annual Awards showcased a city packed with businesses, organisations and individuals at the top of their game, some of them brand new to the city (a big wave to the many fi rst-timers!) and others long established fi xtures and fi ttings of the place. Inevitably, some categories were more keenly contested than others – though none were a shoo-in for anyone – and though you could perhaps quibble about this winner or that, it’s hard to deny that the overall list of fi nalists and gong-grabbers shows a city teeming with entrepreneurial spirit. Highlights from the night included well-deserved, and heartwarming, standing ovations for Jay’s Aim – Helping Young Hearts, who won best charity; and Exeter Respect Festival, the winners of best event and overall Platinum Award. There was also our fantastic host for the evening, the indefatigable Mark Olver, whose energy, warmth, and moves – who could forget the mesmeric dancing with PrincessHay’s Michelle Menezes – set the tone for such a special evening.

Then there were all the inevitable shenanigans with people posing outrageously draped over the big Exeter Living letters or in the Cover Star photo booth – and some slightly less inevitable shenanigans involving the aptly-named human Tinder and a cleanup on aisle stairwell. Finally, a good showing made it to the Pink Moon after party, as messy and as fun as you like – though the morning that followed was, we’re sorry to say, slightly less fun for some of us. At this point in our summing-up of the evening, we’re contractually obliged to include a few key words – ‘uberglam’, ‘nothing beats being there’, ‘Exeter is the winner, always’ – and point out the simple but irrefutable fact that everyone involved (the sponsors, the judges, the partners, and all who fed, entertained, fi lmed, photographed and supported us) is bloody ace. Over the years, the Exeter Living Awards have grown exponentially in terms of size and ambition, but retain their key qualities. Inclusive, surprising, good-natured yet competitive, they celebrate a city that does the little things well (creating endless excellent opportunities to grab a coffee or take a yoga class, say) as well as competes, surprisingly often, on the national and international stage.

For all those who attended our event, you made it a truly joyful night. Thank you. MEET 2020’S BEST OF THE BEST

PLATINUM SPONSOR

ARTS BAR WINNER: EXETER NORTHCOTT THEATRE

WINNER: THE ODDFELLOWS

BUSINESS SERVICES

WINNER: #NATWEST BOOST

CAFÉ

WINNER: THE DAISY CAFÉ

CHARITY Sponsored by

WINNER: JAY’S AIM – HELPING YOUNG HEARTS

CIVIC

WINNER: EXETER CULTURE – ON BEHALF OF THE EXETER UNESCO CITY OF LITERATURE GROUP

CREATIVE EDUCATION WINNER: BUDDY CREATIVE

WINNER: SPARX

EVENT Sponsored by

WINNER: EXETER RESPECT FESTIVAL

HAIR & BEAUTY

WINNER: THE HAIR BOUTIQUE

FOOD/DRINK PRODUCER Sponsored by

WINNER: BLUE GOOSE COFFEE

HEALTH & WELLBEING Sponsored by

WINNER: BLUEBIRD CARE EXETER

HOMES & INTERIORS

WINNER: PLASTIC SURGEON FINE FINISHERS

LEGAL & FINANCIAL Sponsored by

WINNER: BISHOP FLEMING

LEISURE & TOURISM Sponsored by

WINNER: EVENT EXETER

NEW BUSINESS Sponsored by

WINNER: PINK MOON

PROPERTY Sponsored by

JOINT WINNER: HILTON BARNFIELD ARCHITECTS AND DHUD

PROPERTY Sponsored by

JOINT WINNER: MI-SPACE UK

RESTAURANT Sponsored by

WINNER: THE CADELEIGH ARMS

RETAILER Sponsored by

WINNER: MOMMA TRUCKER SKATES

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION Sponsored by

WINNER: SPARX

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT

WINNER: KARIME HASSAN

PLATINUM AWARD Sponsored by

WINNER: EXETER RESPECT FESTIVAL

MEET THE FINALISTS, WHO LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY

ARTS • Arts and Culture, University of Exeter • Exeter Corn Exchange Pantomime • Exeter Culture – on behalf of the Exeter UNESCO City of Literature Group • Exeter Northcott Theatre • Theatre Alibi

BAR • Barnova presents The Exeter Christmas Market Bar • John Gandy’s (South Devon Inns) • The Bowling Green • The NoBody Inn • The Oddfellows • The Stand Off

BUSINESS SERVICES • BCR Associates • Cathedral Appointments • Edson Tiger • Granted Consultancy • Land Rover Experience West Country • #NatWestBoost • Onelife Training • Optix Solutions • The Organic Agency • RGB Recruitment Ltd • RyderSlade • Triangle Networks CAFE • @143 coffee shop • The Cork and Tile • The Dairy Shop • The Daisy Café • Pink Moon CHARITY • The Deaf Academy • Estuary League of Friends • Exeter CITY Community Trust • Exeter Pride • Force Cancer Charity • Jay’s AIM – Helping Young Hearts • The Reading List Foundation • The West Country 100 CIVIC • Exeter Culture – on behalf of the Exeter UNESCO City of Literature Group • Exeter Library • Exeter Northcott Theatre • Hilton Barnfield Architects and DHUD • Phonic FM • The Ted Wragg Multi Academy Trust • Tribe by Air Marketing Group • Wilkinson Grant CREATIVE • AB The Creative Agency • The Belt Makers • Buddy Creative • Dirty Martini Marketing • Erin Cox Jewellery • Exeter Phoenix Digital • Luminous Show Technology EDUCATION • Arts and Culture, University of Exeter • Exeter Cathedral Education Department • Exeter Phoenix Digital • The Maynard School • Rebecca Dowell Tuition • Sparx • The Ted Wragg Multi Academy Trust • Theatretrain Exeter EVENT • Devon County Show • Exeter Festival 2019 • Exeter Pride • Exeter Respect Festival • Like Minds Nudge Ideas Festival • NatWest Business Banking – #NatWestBoost • No. 3 Topsham Gin Festival • Powderham Food Festival • Powderham Live! FOOD & DRINK PRODUCER • Ben’s Farm Shop • Blue Goose Coffee • The Dairy Shop • Figgy’s Christmas Puddings • Ground Up Cookery School HAIR & BEAUTY • The Hair Boutique • Luka’s Barbers • Nutters Hairdressers • The Treatment Loft HEALTH & WELLBEING • Bluebird Care Exeter • Chrysalis Care Innovations • Exeter Advanced Dentistry • Horizon Academy BJJ • Meridian Raw CIC • OrganicARTS • Osteo & Physio Events • Sol Energies HOMES & INTERIORS • Ashton House Design • Colette Liebenberg Design • Plastic Surgeon Fine Finishers • Space • Touch Design Group • Zero Exeter LEGAL & FINANCIAL • Bishop Fleming • Charles Stanley • GX Accountancy & Bookkeeping Services • Marsh Commercial • Peplows Chartered Accountants • Premier Financial Planning • Root2growth • Seabrook Clark • Wollens LEISURE & TOURISM • Crealy Theme Park & Resort • Devon County Show • Event Exeter • Exeter Cathedral • Froginwell Vineyard • Land Rover Experience West Country • The Pig – at Combe • Powderham Castle NEW BUSINESS • Coreus Group • Horizon Academy BJJ • Luxury Coastal • Notworking Networking • Pink Moon • Rockfish Seafood Restaurant • Tribe by Air Marketing Group PROPERTY • BARC Architects • Burrington Estates New Homes • Coreus Group • Exeter Property Circle • Hilton Barnfield Architects and DHUD • JMT Wood Build • Mi-space UK • The Mortgage Quarter • Plastic Surgeon Fine Finishers • RGB Recruitment • Wilkinson Grant RESTAURANT • The Cadeleigh Arms • The Five Bells Inn • The Oddfellows • On The Waterfront • The Pig – at Combe • Rockfish Seafood Restaurant • Rodean Restaurant RETAILER • Busby & Fox • Erin Cox Jewellery • Exeter Vegan Market • Hot Smoked • La Boutique • Momma T rucker Skates • Zero Exeter TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION • Appen • City Science • Krowdthink • Rezcomm • Software Solved • Sparx

ALL HAIL THE JUDGES!

All decisions about these Awards are made by a panel of impeccably independent judges, chosen afresh each year from every area of Exeter business life. Many different businesses types and sizes are represented, and individual judges leave the room if a category directly relevant to them is discussed. With a record number of nominations, the decisions each year are harder than ever.