A shortlist of finalists for the 2025 Stirling Business Awards has been announced after more than 26,000 votes were cast during the selection process.
Six contenders are shortlisted for the Outstanding Contribution to the City Award with three businesses reaching the final for each of the other honours. The winners of the 11 categories will be revealed at a black-tie ceremony held at the Albert Halls on Thursday March 6. The Business Awards are organised by Go Forth Stirling Business Improvement District (BID) and tickets are now available via Eventbrite – www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stirling-business-awards-ceremony-2025-tickets-1083931902499 Go Forth launched the awards three years ago to recognise and reward the city’s independent business owners. Project Director Danielle McRorie-Smith said: “We’ve had a fantastic response to our third annual business awards with more than 26,000 votes – the highest number so far – cast across the various award categories. “We’re looking forward to seeing the winning businesses revealed at the awards ceremony in March and hope everyone who comes along enjoys a wonderful evening celebrating Stirling’s exceptional business owners and the city’s flourishing independent sector.” A total of 26,413 votes were cast for a longlist of nominated businesses with the Fairytale Trail organised by Lisa Davidson from Tinkerbells Emporium and Laura McClintock of Nevermore Tattoo, Stirling Community Enterprise, local archaeologist Dr Murray Cook, Your Move Estate Agents, Stirling Pride and Stirling City Heritage Trust making the final for Outstanding Contribution to the City.Finalists for Restaurant of the Year are An Darna, Fletcher’s and Green Gates while Meraki, Molly Malones and Slanj A Va are in the running for Pub/Bar of the Year. Book Nook, Toast and Chester’s Coffee House are shortlisted for Café/Coffee Shop of the Year while Room 23, Simpson and Co and Eleven Eleven Salon are competing for the Hair & Beauty Business of the Year Award. In the Retailer of the Year category, the finalists are Made in Stirling, Europa Music and Ginger Roots with Stirling Distillery, Stirling Castle and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum shortlisted for Visitor Attraction of the Year. The finalists for Charity of the Year are the Eilidh Brown Foundation, Strathcarron Hospice and Transition Stirling while the three companies in line for the Service-led Business of the Year honour are Erol’s Tailor Shop, Stirling Optical and MacFarlane Physiotherapy. Contenders for Business Support Service of the Year are Computer Division, Codebase and Alex Brewster Electrical.The final category is New Business of the Year with SRTD Vintage, King Street Aparthotel and WorKing Flexispaces and White Dove Coffee Roasters vying for that award.Go Forth are currently looking for headline and individual category sponsors with more details about sponsorship packages available on the dedicated awards page – www.goforthstirling.co.uk/business-awards/The Stirling Business Awards highlight the entrepreneurial business owners and teams behind Stirling’s unique independent community and are voted for by the public. They are one of Go Forth’s many initiatives and projects which support the area’s business community. Go Forth Stirling is the city’s BID representing more than 600 business owners with a key objective of increasing visitors to the city and devising initiatives to help make it a more welcoming destination for businesses and shoppers. For more information, visit www.goforthstirling.co.uk
