Some of the town's best-loved independent stores went head-to-head with high street chains in the 2004 Retail and Entertainment Awards.

The results of this year's awards were announced at High Street nightspot Tiger Tiger last Wednesday, and saw independent clothes shop Labels 4 Less beating competition from the likes of George and House of Fraser to win the fashion retailers category for the second year running.

Owner of the discount women's clothes store, John Pamboris, who has run the shop with his wife Tina MacDonald since 1994, was delighted.

He said: "The customers here are treated well. All the staff act as personal shoppers, they are trained to walk round with the customers and give them all the help they need."

He added: "We intend to enter again next year and see if we can make it a hat-trick."

The competition, now in its second year, was organised by the town's promotional body Croydon Marketing and Development (CMD) and the Croydon Guardian.

House of Fraser, which opened its store in Centrale last September, scooped two awards for best new retail business and food or drink retailer of the year. And the Rush chain claimed the title of health and beauty business of the year.

Colin Smith, manager of milkshake bar ShakeAway in the Whitgift Centre, which came third place in two categories, said the awards were significant because they were voted for by shoppers.

He said: "We've not been in Croydon for long, so coming third is good because it shows our customers are happy and they'll keep on coming back."

Rachael Vincent, of South Norwood, won £50 of shopping vouchers to spend at the Whitgift Centre after being selected as the winner of the readers' award.



Winners of the Retail and Entertainment Awards 2004
Best new retail business House of Fraser, Centrale
Health and beauty business of the year Rush, George Street
Customer friendly retail award Beanos, Middle Street
Fashion retailer of the year award Labels 4 Less, High Street
Independent retailer of the year Discount Music Store
Non-fashion retailer of the year Turtles, Park Street
Night time venue of the year Warehouse Theatre, Dingwall Road
Food or drink retailer of the year House of Fraser, Centrale