from Red Funnel

Red Funnel’s 2023 Isle of Wight Awards nominees have been announced, with voting now open for the public to decide their Island tourism champions. Now in its fourth year, the coveted awards celebrate the best of local business, from newcomers to the industry to those who have been part of the fabric of the Island for decades.

Nominees are split into four main categories, Accommodation, Food & Drink, Things to Do and Other, with 20 awards under each, all of which are now open for public vote. A total of 60 winners will be celebrated at the awards ceremony in autumn, with bronze, silver and gold prizes for each category being awarded to the very best examples of Island tourism.

Previous winners such as Harbour Kitchen are back to defend their “Best Burger” title, whilst first time nominee Grace’s Bakery is gunning for “Best Local Produce”. Other notable nominees include The Velvet Pig, a vintage treasure trove name dropped by Mary Portas Queen of Shops for their amazing window displays, which is newly shortlisted for “Best Green Business”. The popular Isle of Wight Story Festival is another first-time nominee, shortlisted for the “Best Event” category this year.

Fran Collins, Chief Executive of Red Funnel, said:

“We’re incredibly excited to be hosting the Isle of Wight Awards again this year. They are a celebration of the wonderful businesses and people that make the Island such a unique place. The awards are a highlight of the year for both our team and for businesses locally, and I would like to congratulate everyone who has been shortlisted in 2023.”

All award winners are voted for by the public, along with a panel of expert Island judges. Last year’s awards, which took place at Northwood House in Cowes, saw more than 65,000 votes cast for over 200 local businesses. This year, there are even more nominees looking to pick up a gold, silver, or bronze award, reflecting the excellent choice of places to eat, sleep and explore on the Island. The full shortlist of nominees along with where to vote can be found here. Voting closes on 31August