Chester independent salon, eatery and boutique nominated as UK’s best

The Scented Garden Retreat, Shrub and Chester Boutique have all been nominated as the UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026. People can nominated their favourite business for a chance to win a share of £2,000 in Town & City Gift Cards, such as the Chester Gift Card.

A Chester independent salon celebrating 30 years in business, a city centre plant based restaurant, and a popular womenswear boutique have all been nominated in the national UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026 competition.

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. There are £2,000 worth of Town & City Gift Cards up for grabs, with the business receiving the most nominations nationally winning a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card of their choice. One person who nominated the winning business will also receive a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card.

Chester BID is also offering a £500 Chester Gift Card to the city business with the most nominations in the competition. If this is also the business which wins UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026 overall, the £500 Chester Gift Card prize will go to the Chester business with the second highest number of nominations in the competition.

The Scented Garden Retreat offers all types of holistic therapies, skincare treatments and advanced skincare treatments across our two city locations.

We’ve been in Chester for over 30 years and 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 believe this Christmas will be one of the best the city has ever seen. It is a huge honour to be nominated as the UK’s Favourite Local Business by our customers. 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. The winner could do so much with a £1,000 Chester Gift Card, from eating out to shopping and being pampered, all through one card. It’s a fantastic initiative.

Shrub was a passion project from the start, with myself, Sammy and Tash all coming together to hopefully create something the city was missing. Our ethos was always 'no preach, no apology' when it came to our plant-based menu.

We aren't here to change diets but simply show that plant-based food can still be flavourful. 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, we have to really deliver flavour and service that as sincere as it is flavourful. Beyond this, the focus was make a place people really did want to work at. 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. Pay above minimum wage, perks that people want, a team environment that fosters healthy conversation and open dialogue between everyone. These were cornerstones of the project.

He continued, "It may sound obvious, but it’s truly humbling to have been nominated as the UK’s Favourite Local Business. That people have taken the time off their own back to think about their local high street and our name came up - it is a testament to how the team deliver day in, day out. Far more than I do! 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. We really believe that the dining room isn't just food and drink but an experience, hopefully this reflects that! So thank you!"

Chester Boutique has been in the city for 15 years now and I’ve never lost my passion for helping people find the right clothes for them. 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. It’s amazing to have been nominated as the UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026 which I think is down to our wonderful, loyal customers.

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. I think to succeed on the British high street now, you have to live and breathe your business. 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. We’re a part of the Chester Gift Card because it allows people to give the gift of the city. Unlike a gift card for a single brand, the Chester Gift Card can be used to buy clothes at Chester Boutique, to watch a show at the Storyhouse, to get a coffee at Rainbow Café and in many other bars, restaurants, shops and salons. It’s like giving cash but in a much nicer way that allows people to have an experience of their choice. It’s a great gift.

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.

It’s fantastic to see so many nominations for Chester businesses in this national competition. We’re heading into the peak Christmas trading period in the city and it has never been more important to show your support for the local businesses you love, whether through buying the Chester Gift Card as a gift or employee reward, or simply by nominating your favourite local business.

The Chester Gift Card is part of the multi-award winning Town & City Gift Cards concept from fintech Miconex. Over 27,000 local businesses are part of Miconex’s local gift card programs around the world with over £69m of cards sold to date.

Colin Munro, CEO of Miconex, said: “The Chester Gift Card is the ultimate ‘shop local’ gift card, with over 140 businesses in the city accepting the card. We’ve launched the UK’s Favourite Local Business to spotlight the businesses like The Scented Garden Retreat, Shrub and Chester Boutique who are at the heart of our Town & City Gift Cards programs. Please take a moment to nominate your favourite local business for a chance to win a £1,000 Chester Gift Card just before Christmas.”

Enter the UK’s Favourite Local Business competition free at: www.lovelocalwin.co.uk

The competition closes on the 30th November 2026.