DURHAM’S best shops, restaurants and bars have been given prizes at an annual awards ceremony,

The eleventh annual Durham City Retail Awards took place at Ramside Hall Hotel last night.

Bell’s Fish restaurant, in Market Place, took home the biggest prize of the evening after being named as the best restaurant and the overall retailer of the year.

Scorpio Shoes, an independent shop in Saddler Street, won the prize for the best window while small retailer of the year was Miracles Hair and Beauty.

Toni & Guy, in High Street, picked up two awards, winning the retail experience of the year category and manager Wendy Buttleman being named as retail person of the year.

The toy and computer stall in the Market Hall was market trader of the year.

Meanwhile Ciao Ciao, on Framwellgate Bridge, was cafe of the year and The Court Inn, in Court Lane, was bar of the year.

Moon Jewellery, in Silver Street, was independent retailer of the year and Specsavers, in North Road, picked up the large retailer of the year prize.

Carol Feenan, Durham County Council’s Durham City Centre manager, said: “These awards celebrate the great range of retail outlets we have in the city centre, the brilliant staff which work in them and the great customer experience they provide.

“Evenings like this give us the opportunity to congratulate and thank everyone involved in making Durham City a fantastic place to shop. Without them, our city would not be the excellent visitor destination it undoubtedly is.”

Each year, members of the public are invited to nominate their favourite shops and to highlight the staff who make them special before a short list for each category is drawn up.

The top six in each category is then subject to a mystery shop and the one with the most points named as the winner.

The scheme is run by Durham County Council and sponsored by the Prince Bishops shopping centre.