AN independent men’s fashion store has been crowned Durham's best retailer in the city’s retailing 'Oscars'.

Woven, in the Gates shopping centre, won both Retail Experience of the Year and Overall Retailer of the Year categories in the Durham City Retail Awards, presented tonight (Wednesday, November 26) at a ceremony held at Ramside Hall Hotel.

Woven was commended for providing "outstanding customer service" that adds to the "excellent all-round retail experience”.

Twelve prizes were awarded after more than 1,800 shoppers nominated their favourite city centre traders.

Hairdressing salon Toni&Guy, based in the Prince Bishop Centre, clinched Small Retailer of the Year while near neighbour, Costa Coffee, was awarded Cafe of the Year.

The city’s food and drink sector also received recognition with Bar of the Year being awarded to The Angel, the popular Crossgate pub. Finbarrs, in Waddington Street, took the title of Restaurant of the Year.

Other winners included Specsavers, which scooped the Large Retailer of the Year award, Gateway World Shop, which picked up Independent Retailer.

Window of the Year was awarded to Warm Sanctuary and Durham City Hardware claimed the title of Market Trader of the Year.

Judges said the standards were so high that it was impossible to decide on an overall winner for Retail Person of the Year - so it was jointly awarded to Lyndsey Johnson of Fancy Dress Party and Trisha Jackson, of hairdressers Saks.

Richard Toynbee, manager of the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, which jointly organises the annual awards with Durham County Council, said: “We’re now in our ninth year of the awards and the standard of entries always remains high.

“So it’s a major achievement for retailers to be nominated and it’s great to learn how passionate the people of Durham are about good customer service.”

Simon Henig, the Labour leader of Durham County Council, said: “As corporate sponsors of the Durham City Retail Awards we are able to demonstrate how grateful we are to all of the businesses based in Durham City centre for providing us with the diverse range of goods, services and leisure facilities our visitors have come to expect when they visit our fine city.

“These awards help us to promote and build on the excellent customer service today’s visitors demand.”

Cllr Henig thanked everyone who had supported the event and everyone who submitted nominations for the awards.

Around 350 people attended the event, compered by local BBC TV presenter Peter Grant, who used to have a show on the city’s short-lived commercial radio station.