Top of the shops on the shortlist of our Retail and Leisure Awards

The awards, which are run by The News, recognise the hard work of staff and businesses in the retail and leisure industry across 10 categories.

Hundreds of entries were received to make up today’s short list – and they will now be sent to a panel of expert judges. And the five major shopping centres in the area – Meridian Shopping Centre in Havant, Cascades Shopping Centre in Portsmouth, Fareham Shopping Centre, Whiteley Shopping Centre and Gunwharf Quays – have all sponsored this year’s awards.

Mike Taylor, centre manager at Fareham Shopping Centre, said: ‘I’m pleased to be supporting these awards. It’s a fantastic initiative which gives retail and leisure operators a great opportunity to be recognised as being top in class, motivating and bring teams together to reflect on their hard work.

‘I look forward to hearing some of the great work.’

The award winners will be announced at a black-tie gala dinner at Portsmouth Guildhall on Saturday, September 17. The ceremony will be followed by an afterparty at The Fleet and Popworld, in King Henry I Street.

Mollie White, sales manager, said: ‘The Fleet and Popworld are excited to invite everybody attending the Retail and Leisure Awards to the official afterparty.

‘In being just a few steps from the Guildhall, we offer the perfect excuse to stay out a little later and party the night away.’

There will be a private reception in The Fleet followed by free VIP access to Popworld upstairs with an exclusive portion of the bar.

Tickets for the ceremony are on sale now at £49.50. To buy call (023) 9262 2751.

Tickets include three-course dinner with reception drink, awards presentation, celebration music and dancing with Kelli and her Disco Diva. The evening will be presented by Nick Wallis, from the BBC.

Deadline for purchasing the tickets is September 7.

RISING STAR/

TEAM MEMBER

Boswells, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth – Jon Green

Boswells, Cascades Shopping Centre – Mike Stratton

Boswells, Meridian Shopping Centre, Havant – Garon Edwards

Boswells, Meridian Shopping Centre, Havant – Lois Findlay

Boswells, Meridian Shopping Centre, Havant – Sam Ketchen

Gunwharf Quays – Jay Wood, guest relations manager

Gunwharf Quays – Lauren Coles, guest relations manager

Topman, Whiteley Shopping Centre – Frazer Goater

Voluptuous Vintage, Alverstoke – Emilie Ford, sales advisor & junior stylist

Whiteley Shopping Centre – Lisa MacGregor, centre administrator

BAR/RESTAURANT

Boswells, Meridian Shopping Centre, Havant

Boswells, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth

Dim T, Whiteley Shopping Centre

Five Guys, Whiteley Shopping Centre

Loch Fyne Seafood and Grill, Gunwharf Quays

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION

Beals Estate Agents & Surveyors LLP, Solent Way, Whiteley

Bonmarché, Fareham Shopping Centre

Highbury College, Cosham

Whiteley Town Council

CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARDS

Antler Ltd, Gunwharf Quays – Emma Terracciano, store manager

Argos, Meridian Shopping Centre, Havant – Ruth Goodwin, manager

Boswells, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth – Pauline Truscott, Adela Gandila, Jon Green, Mike Stratton & team

Boswells, Meridian Shopping Centre, Havant – Caroline Davis, Sam Ketchen & team

Brunel’s News, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth – Maria Fisher, branch manager

Clarks, Whiteley Shopping Centre – Karen Moore, store manager

Clarks Gunwharf Quays – Chris Green, manager

Creatiques, Southsea – Andrew Pearce, owner/director

Emirates Spinnaker Tower – Ellie Morgan, PR executive

Gunwharf Quays – guest relations team

Imaginarium Way, Whiteley Shopping Centre – Barry Turner and Sarah Bland, directors

Land Securities/Gunwharf Quays – guest relations team

Radley, Gunwharf Quays – Emma Parker, manager

Sky, Fareham Shopping Centre – Dudley Stagpool, store manager

Solent Mobility, Lee-on-the-Solent – Debbie Watts, director

Tesco, Whiteley Shopping Centre – Ola Ayeni, security officer

Voluptuous Vintage, Alverstoke – Jennifer Darling

FASHION RETAILER

Beaverbrooks the Jewellers, Whiteley Shopping Centre

Moss Bros, Whiteley Shopping Centre

Topman, Whiteley Shopping Centre

Voluptuous Vintage, Alverstoke

Creatiques, Southsea

Crew Clothing, Gunwharf Quays

Joules, Gunwharf Quays

Marabella’s Boutique, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth

INDEPENDENT SPECIALIST RETAILER

Adopt A Dolly, Fareham Shopping Centre

Boswells, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth & Meridian Shopping Centre, Havant

Bow Wows @No7, Trading Post, Port Solent

Brunel’s News, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth

Creatiques, Southsea

Fabricland, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth

Imaginarium Way, Whiteley Shopping Centre

Lamoure Jewellery, Fareham Shopping Centre

Marabella’s Boutique, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth

Solent Mobility, Lee-on-the-Solent

Southsea Bathing Hut

Sweets 4 U, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth

Voluptuous Vintage, Alverstoke

Withit, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth

LEISURE VENUE

Cineworld, Whiteley Shopping Centre

Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth

Rock Up, Whiteley Shopping Centre

The Real Escape, Portsmouth

NEW RETAILER

Imaginarium Way, Whiteley Shopping Centre

Lamoure Jewellery, Fareham Shopping Centre

Rock Up, Whiteley Shopping Centre

Southsea Bathing Hut

Sweets 4 U, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth

Voluptuous Vintage, Alverstoke

NON FASHION RETAILER

Adopt A Dolly, Fareham Shopping Centre

Antler Ltd, Gunwharf Quays

Argos, Meridian Shopping Centre, Havant

Bow Wows @No7, Trading Post, Port Solent

Brunel’s News, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth

Imaginarium Way, Whiteley Shopping Centre

Le Creuset, Gunwharf Quays

Lindt, Gunwharf Quays

Lush, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth

Solent Mobility, Lee-on-the-Solent

Sweets 4 U, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth

Thomson, Whiteley Shopping Centre

MANAGER

Antler Ltd, Gunwharf Quays – Emma Terracciano

BBs Coffee and Muffins, Fareham Shopping Centre – Lucy Abraham

Bonmarché, Fareham Shopping Centre – Karen Wood

Boswells, Meridian Shopping Centre, Havant – Caroline Davis

Boswells, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth – Adela Gandila

Boswells, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth – Pauline Truscott

Boswells, Meridian Shopping Centre, Havant – Sam Ketchen, assistant manager

Brunel’s News, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth – Maria Fisher

Creatiques, Southsea – Andrew & Robert Pearce

Fabricland, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth – Sonya Hicks

Joules, Gunwharf Quays – Rae Bryden

Lush, Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth – Tom Pearson

Moss Bros, Whiteley Shopping Centre – Simon Warren

Thomson, Whiteley Shopping Centre – Lizzie Whitcombe