WHO makes Warrington’s best roast dinner, pizza or afternoon tea?
Where is the best place to have your hair or nails done?
Which is the town’s best independent shop?
In April, we launched the Warrington Guardian Best of 2023 competition to find the best that the area has to offer in 23 different categories.
Each week, readers nominated their favourite cafés, gyms and pubs as well as fish chip shops, beer gardens and fitness instructors and we put together a shortlist of the most popular places announcing an overall winner for each category voted by you, the readers.
The winners were all featured in a special supplement in the Warrington Guardian in October and, as 2023 comes to an end, we decided to take a look back and find out how they each took one of the Best of 2023 crowns.
Here are the 23 winners in Warrington:
Ashleigh Hair and Beauty
Ten years ago, when Ashley Withers opened his salon, he didn’t have a single client on his books.
The 19-year-old took a huge leap of faith opening Ashleigh Hair and Beauty on Hatter’s Row in the town centre and had to rely on word of mouth to build up his customer base.
Fast forward to 2023, and the successful businessman is celebrating the latest in a long line of awards and honours after taking Warrington’s Best for Hair title two years in a row!
Ashleigh Hair and Beauty was the first winner of our Best of 2023 awards.
Tomlins Bakery
If you have the perfect recipe for delicious pies that’s been keeping customers happy for more than a century, why change it?
Tomlins Bakery on Synge Street first opened its doors in 1905 when mother and daughter Clarise and Lucy Holbrook started a bakery and confectionary business.
Over the past 118 years, customers have queued out the door to buy one of the mouth-wateringly delicious pies and other baked goods and they’re now officially the best in Warrington.
The business is now owned by husband-and-wife team Sonya and Mark Fitzpatrick, who took over at the helm just over 12 months ago.
Bamboo Salon
Opening your own business during lockdown was never going to be easy.
But Chloe Jones knew that she could make a success of Bamboo Salon and she was right as it took the Warrington’s Best for Nails 2023 title.
In 2020, Chloe, who lives in Woolston, was on the lookout for business premises having worked in local salons and never feeling settled.
She knew that being employed wasn’t for her and she didn’t want to rent a desk or chair in someone else’s salon.
Heaths 26
Does mashed potato belong on a roast dinner?
According to Elliott Cooke it does but it needs to be the smoothest, creamiest mashed potato to go with the crispiest roast potatoes.
These are just two of the ingredients in Warrington’s Best Roast Dinner, which is served at Heaths 26 in Stockton Heath.
Dead Eyes
Let's raise a glass to Dead Eyes Cocktail Bar – Warrington’s Best for Cocktails 2023!
There were extra celebrations over the May bank holiday weekend at the award-winning town centre bar as owner Graeme Keast and general manager Alex Tennant made a toast to their loyal customers who voted for them to win their latest Best of 2023 title.
Graeme, who has lived in Warrington for 16 years, took over at the pumps in March 2021 and clearly made a good first impression with regulars and new customers alike as they were voted Warrington Best for Burgers last summer.
Cafe Blu
When it comes to breakfast, you can’t go wrong with a full English – fried eggs, sausages and bacon with hash browns, beans and toast.
But could you manage six of everything? Could you stomach Café Blu’s award-winning belly busting breakfast?
Café Blu opened its doors on Grafton Street on Wednesday, February 1 this year with owners Kerry and Gary Campbell aiming to provide fresh quality food using the best products.
The couple also wanted to create a place where customers felt welcomed and at home – somewhere they could call in for a cup of tea and a friendly chat – and NHS workers receive 20 per cent discount.
RM ABC Boxing and Fitness
As a boxing coach, referee and judge and a personal trainer, Daniel Warburton knows a thing or two about fitness.
And the 40-year-old owner of RM ABC Boxing and Fitness beat some healthy competition to take Warrington’s Best for Fitness 2023 title.
Daniel is a level three personal trainer and an England boxing accredited coach, referee, judge and timekeeper as well as a Hatton Academy Elite instructor.
Fish Net
Serving top quality fish and chips every day is no mean feat but Sava and Maria Mylonas have clearly got the recipe for success.
The couple, who run FishNet in Latchford, have followed up last year’s Best for Fish and Chips win and added the 2023 title to their collection after battering the competition from nine other fish and chip plaices.
Cyprus-born Sava and Maria Mylonas opened FishNet in June 2018 having worked at Maria’s family fish and chip shop in Widnes in the 1990s and then opening their own shop in Chester.
Danny's Tattoo
What's better than winning a Best of 2023 award? How about winning two!
Not on the heels of scooping our Best for Fitness title earlier this month, Danny Warburton has bagged himself a second honour - Warrington's Best for Tattoos.
Danny started tattooing 14 years after a seemingly endless search for an apprenticeship finally produced a job offer.
The 40-year-old opened his own business - Danny's Tattoo – after working in Padgate, Great Sankey, Latchford and a stint in Bolton.
Donatello
After making pizza and pasta for nearly three decades, everyone at Donatello clearly has the recipe for success.
And the talented team at the Orford Lane restaurant led by owners Sam, Adam, Khalid, Yasmin and Jemel Boujibar were celebrating after taking the latest Best of 2023 award - Warrington’s Best for Pizza.
Parents Julie and Khalid Boujibar opened the award-winning restaurant in 1996 thanks to a little financial help from their own parents, who had a successful plumbing business – Warmways on Lythgoes Lane.
It was popular with customers almost instantly proving to be a great success and busy with locals wanting to sample Italian cuisine.
In 2017, brothers Adam and Sam became directors of Donatello after working front of house and running the chefs in the kitchen.
Victoria Park Vets
What a way to celebrate your first birthday – winning one of our Best of 2023 awards!
Husband and wife team Sarah and Archie at Victoria Park Vets only opened the business 12 months ago so there are double celebrations planned this weekend as they mark the first anniversary and scooping Warrington’s Best for Pets 2023 honour.
We were looking at our furry and feathered friends and the people who take good care of them, with Victoria Park Vets beating off tough competition from nine other businesses.
Sarah Cumming and husband Archie are the co-owners of Victoria Park Vets on Knutsford Road in Latchford.
They opened their doors on July 4 last year – independence day for a new independent, family-run business.
The Phone Whisperer
Donny Danks aka The Phone Whisperer can talk the talk and walk the walk when it comes to running a successful business.
In fact, the Latchford-based shop is Warrington’s Best Independent Shop or Business 2023 thanks to hundreds of votes cast by their loyal customers.
Donny started the business seven years ago after working in his garage at home at weekends and each evening but it gradually outgrew the space.
He leased an office above The Railway pub for four years before moving to the current premises on Knutsford Road.
White Lace Bakery
There's the sweet smell of success from White Lace Bakery in Warrington town centre as they scooped back-to-back awards for their delicious desserts.
Lindsay Albon had a wedding cake business in 2016 and then threw open the doors to her shop four years later on Market Place, Golden Square, after running a temporary stall in Warrington Market.
The talented team – Lindsay, husband Graham and daughter Lauren Paget, who is the shop manager - won last year’s Best for Dessert award did the double, winning Warrington’s 2023 search to find the tastiest treats in town.
Bella You
Suzanne Bennett opened Bella You in 2013 “with big dreams” of helping clients “feel good from the inside out”.
Fast forward ten years and the 39-year-old mum-of-two is celebrating being named Warrington’s Best for Beauty 2023 thanks to the support of her loyal customers – and they voted in their hundreds!
Suzanne is fully qualified in hair and makeup as well as massage and sports massage and she’s just completed her level 3 in education and training.
She’s worked at various locations around Warrington including Top Shop where she was asked to open her first braid bar concession and she works mobile travelling all over the north west for photography shoots, weddings, parties and holistic events.
Tiny Talk Baby Signing
Thérèse Markham loves seeing the joy on the faces of babies and toddlers in her TinyTalk classes when their parents understand what they’re trying to say.
Equally, the smiles radiating from the adults as they communicate with their little ones is just as rewarding.
Baby signing sessions in Warrington are hugely popular, with Thérèse teaching the smallest family members and their grown ups how to communicate for the past 18 years.
It’s these happy customers who have voted TinyTalk Warrington’s Best for Kids 2023, something which Thérèse was quite rightly celebrating.
Ryfields
A family-run gym that is a safe training space for its members – Ryfields Gym has won back-to-back Best of awards, securing Warrington’s Best Gym for the second year in a row.
Husband and wife team Paul and Becky Warburton have had a fitness business in the town for the past 13 years and been based at Ryfields Gym since October 2016.
Paul and Becky, who live in Orford, run the small family-run gym at Ryfields Village which offers a quiet, safe training space for its members and they allow families and young people to enjoy the classes and equipment.
The Ferry Tavern
With picturesque views of the River Mersey, not much beats a cold drink outside in the sunshine at The Ferry Tavern.
The venue, which won last year’s Best Beer Garden in Warrington, has just done the double and scooped this year’s title as it continues to be the number one destination for a drink and a bite to eat al fresco.
Andy and Jade Mulholland took over at the pumps at the Station Road pub in 2005 with Jade having moved to The Ferry with her family when she was 10 and Andy growing up in Penketh.
Jade’s parents Pat and Terry Maxwell took on the pub in 1992 when it had been closed for two years.
During the time it was closed, there was a fire in the derelict building and it needed a full renovation and refit so that the family could move in.
Pat and Terry retired in 2005 and Jade and Andy decided to take over as licensees.
The Grand
Fancy a sweet afternoon tea with homemade cakes and scones?
How about a savoury one with pastries, cheese and crackers?
These tasty treats at The Grand have just scooped our latest Best of 2023 award – Warrington’s Best for Afternoon Tea and the hard-working team at the town centre venue couldn’t be happier.
Ellie Allen, from Burtonwood, is the marketing and events manager at the Bridge Street venue and James Glover and Mike Mason, from Great Sankey, are the owners.
The Grand, which opened in 2021 when Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, is a premier cocktail bar that plays host to tribute nights, live singers and entertainment.
They recently opened as a café during the day serving cakes, scones and the now award-winning afternoon tea.
Cafe at the End of the Universe
Have you ever tried a Ham Solo? Or a Kevin Bacon?
These are the award-winning burgers on the menu at Café at the End of the Universe on Warrington Market and Howley Industrial Estate – officially serving the best burgers in town.
Andrew Kinsella is the owner of the business, which opened in 2015 from the back of a van touring events in the north west.
In 2017, Andrew moved into the temporary market before relocating to The Cookhouse in Warrington Market in 2020.
CJ's Coffee Shop and Tearoom
It's the little things that make a difference when you’re running your own business and Ben and Alison Ashwin have got it mastered to a tee – or should that be tea?
The couple own CJ’s Coffee Shop and Tearoom in Penketh and after scooping last year’s Best for Afternoon Tea award for their tasty treats, the venue was been named Warrington’s Best Coffee Shop.
Husband and wife Ben and Alison opened the coffee shop on Warrington Road in February 2018 and named it CJ’s after their daughter Chloe Jaine who is now eight.
Ben was born in Warrington but moved away at a young age before returning in his early 20s and Alison moved to the town from Hull with her family when she was eight.
Monpura
Making a good first impression was crucial to the success of Monpura in the heart of Stockton Heath.
And after scooping last year’s Best for Curry award in Warrington just nine months after opening, the restaurant continued to be the go to destination for people wanting authentic curries.
Twelve months later, and Monpura has just been named Warrington’s Best for Curry 2023.
The Seven Woods
Seven years after taking over at the pumps at The Seven Woods, Lez and Vicki Anders are double award winners and can proudly say they still manage the best pub in Warrington.
The couple took last year’s Best Pub award and have successfully defended their crown taking Warrington’s Best Pub 2023 title again this year.
Lez and Vicki Anders took over as managers of the Westbrook Crescent venue in January 2016.
Lez grew up in Longford and Vicki is from Manchester and after spending many years repairing cars (Lez) and studying social care (Vicki) they discovered a passion for running pubs.
San Lorenzo
Charles Dobosz and Adam Smith know a thing or two about running a successful business.
Palmyra Square is home to four of their restaurants and a hugely popular gin and cigar bar.
One of their establishments – San Lorenzo – has just been crowned the number one restaurant in Warrington.
Charles and Adam opened The Grill on the Square – their first restaurant – on Palmyra Square North in 2010 and Las Ramblas in 2015 before San Lorenzo opened its doors in 2018.
The dynamic duo have since opened The Terrace Gin and Cigar Bar and The Treasury Private Dining Rooms.
San Lorenzo is located over two floors of The Treasury Building on Palmyra Square South with the first floor dining room featuring an open kitchen where guests can watch the chefs at work, creating the authentic Italian menu of fresh seafood, steaks, pasta and wood fired pizzas.
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