Best family-friendly places in Hampshire up for awards

THOUSANDS of votes have been cast in an award scheme that recognises the best places in Hampshire for people with young children.
Editor of Little Ankle Biters Hampshire, Katherine AntrobusEditor of Little Ankle Biters Hampshire, Katherine Antrobus
Editor of Little Ankle Biters Hampshire, Katherine Antrobus

More than 10,000 votes have been lodged for the scores of different businesses across 17 different categories in the Little Ankle Biters annual awards.

The categories range from best party supplier to best family-friendly place to eat, and best pregnancy service to best family attraction.

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This year, there is also the Best Community Spirit Award, designed to recognise a family-friendly business that has adapted and evolved to continue its outstanding service during lockdown.

Editor of Little Ankle Biters Hampshire, Katherine AntrobusEditor of Little Ankle Biters Hampshire, Katherine Antrobus
Editor of Little Ankle Biters Hampshire, Katherine Antrobus

Among those are for awards are the Blue Reef Aquarium, Cumberland House Natural History Museum, the Kings Theatre, all in Southsea, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Wild Wonderland in Gosport and Sweet Peas Play Cafe in Fareham, plus more.

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Little Ankle Biters is a free website providing families with reviews of family-friendly businesses.

It was created by Michelle Cairncross and Kate Gregory in July 2017. They took on editor Katherine Antrobus in October 2020.

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Katherine said: ‘The response from the public to these awards has been phenomenal.

‘We had over 1,000 local Hampshire businesses nominated by families across the county in the first stage of the Awards. Then five finalists in each category were selected, and we received over 10,000 votes from parents and carers for their favourites to win. It’s given the local and independent businesses something positive to share with their customers during these difficult last few months and they should all be proud of being nominated in the first place, let alone getting through to being a finalist and potentially winning.’

The awards will be held live on Instagram at 1pm on Saturday. Go to @littleanklebitershants to follow the live stream.

The 2021 Hampshire Awards Finalists:

Best Charity or not for profit organisation

● Marvels and Meltdowns ADHD and Autism Family Centre (Portsmouth)

● Basingstoke and District Disability Forum (Basingstoke)

● Baby Necessities (Southampton)

● Families of Ocean Ward (Southampton)

● Spotlight (Basingstoke)

Best Local Independent Business

● Little Steps Nanny and Event Agency (Hampshire)

● Sweet Peas Play Cafe (Fareham)

● MiMi Adores (Hill Head)

● Feral Creations (Basingstoke)

● Ginger Green Co (Alton)

Best Pregnancy Service

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● The Hampshire Birthing Company, Alton (www.hampshirebirthing.com)

● Karlek Beauty (Basingstoke)

● FitMama (Basingstoke)

● The Daisy Foundation, Sarah Lewis (Portsmouth, Southsea and Havant)

● Bump Yoga (Andover)

Best New Business

● Little Planet (Winchester)

● Mindfully Making It (Woolston)

● Trenza Braid Bar (West Quay Shopping Centre, Southampton)

● Little Steps Nanny and Events Agency (Hampshire)

● I Wanna Be - Role Play Village (Romsey)

● Ro’s On The Go (Basingstoke)

Best New Product/Service

● Ginger Green Co (Alton)

● Pop Up Play Village (Basingstoke)

● Sticky Little Pickle (Hampshire)

● Parlour Tea Rooms (Basingstoke)

● Messy Monkey Makers (Basingstoke)

Best for the Grown Ups

● CrumbleJack Cafe (Fareham)

● Studio 41 (Basingstoke)

● Bob-I-Tea-Boo (Basingstoke)

● Steam Town Brew Company (Eastleigh)

● The Tea Cosy (Hurstbourne Tarrant)

Best Community Spirit

● Cookery Doodle Doo (North Hampshire)

● Marvels and Meltdowns ADHD and Autism Family Centre (Portsmouth)

● Bob-I-Tea-Boo (Basingstoke)

● Refill and Replenish (Petersfield)

● Portsmouth Arms (Basingstoke)

Best Family Friendly place to eat

● Sweet Peas Cafe (Fareham)

● The Alrebury Cafe (New Alresford)

● Teagether (Basingstoke)

● Wild Tea Bar (South Downs)

● Preston&’s Coffee Shop (Overton)

Best Theatre

● The Mayflower (Southampton)

● Kings Theatre (Portsmouth)

● Scratchbuilt Productions (Basingstoke)

● Anvil Arts (Basingstoke)

● The Point (Eastleigh)

Best Museum

● Milestones Living Museum (Basingstoke)

● Beaulieu Motor Museum (New Forest)

● Portsmouth Historic Dockyard (Portsmouth)

● Cumberland House Natural History Museum (Portsmouth)

● Willis Museum (Basingstoke)

Best Soft Play

● Wild Wonderland (Gosport)

● Kids2Day (Chandler’s Ford)

● Active Tots (Bramley)

● Injoy (Southampton)

● Play Shack (Hedge End)

Best Children’s Party Entertainer

● Imaginacts Entertainment (Southampton)

● Silly Scott (Portsmouth)

● Baby Sensory / Toddler Sense (Basingstoke and Alton)

● Little Learners (Basingstoke)

● Trainmaster (North Hampshire)

Best Children’s Party Venue

● Little Planet (Winchester)

● I Wanna Be - Role Play Village (Romsey)

● Bob-I-Tea-Boo (Basingstoke)

● Sweet Peas Play Cafe (Fareham)

● Play Shack (Hedge End)

Best Party Supplier

● Party Dayz (Tadley)

● Slice of Fun Cakes and Bakes (Basingstoke)

● Candy Treats (Eastleigh)

● Bonkers Balloons (Basingstoke)

● Pixie Cakes by Carolina (Whitchurch)

● Balloons For You - The Party Store (Basingstoke)

Best Children’s Sports Club

● IDPE Sport (Fareham and Gosport)

● Sportskool (Fareham)

● TNT Family Fitness (Basingstoke)

● Invictus Gymnastics Club (Hampshire)

● Basingstoke Rugby Club (Basingstoke)

Best Children’s Activity Class

● Little Learners (Basingstoke)

● Mindfully Making It (Woolston)

● Drama Tots (Basingstoke)

● Winchester City Dance (Winchester)

● Baby Sensory (Basingstoke and Alton)

Best Family Attraction

● Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line (New Alresford)

● Paultons Park (Romsey)

● Marwell Zoo (Winchester)

● Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium (Winchester)

● Blue Reef Aquarium (Portsmouth)

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