Hammersmith firms shone in the 2014 Brilliant Business Awards, with one popular choice, King Street restaurant Azou, coming either first or second in no fewer than five different categories.

The North African restaurant run by husband and wife team Chris and Christine Benarab  won the People’s Choice award for the business with the most public votes went to Azou as well as the title of Best Food Business.

Christine said: ”It was fantastic to be nominated in eight categories. We were absolutely overjoyed to be named Best Food Business, and winning the People's Choice award was the icing on the cake.

"I'd like to say thank you to all our loyal customers and to our team, because it's been a real team effort."

Azou was also the runner-up in the awards for Marketing, Best Independent Local Business and Best Hammersmith Business.

The winner of Best Hammersmith Business was Works4U, also based in King Street, which was also named Best Business Supporter of the Community.

Works4U is a social enterprise whose mission is to help businesses work in the community through a range of volunteering related activities.

Recent activities have included a facelift for a Fulham playground by volunteers from General Electric and teams from Disney's offices in Hammersmith renovating gardens in local care homes.

Launched in 2009, part of the HFVC Group of volunteering organisations that includes the Hammersmith & Fulham Volunteer Centre and Brent Active Citizens, Works4U has helped thousands of businesses and their employees connect with and support community and voluntary organisations as well as local people.

Other well known local names were estate agents Horton and Garton, winners of the Marketing Award and Best Independent Local Business and runner-up in the Innovation Award. Founder John Horton said: " It’s been a fantastic evening, everyone enjoyed coming down and going up on stage. We have a big team of people, including many who we don’t see in the office every day, and I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who pulled together and helped us win this award."

Another well known local agent, Finlay Brewer was runner-up in Best Supporter of the Community while Frost Meadowcroft, based in St Peter's Square was joint runner-up in Best Independent Local Business.

Other local winners were landscape design company Shoots and Leaves, runner-up to the Bush Theatre in the Favourite Business category and Aldensley Road favourite the Andover Arms, which won Best Customer Service and was runner-up in Best Food Business.

Schools software specialist Firefly, based in Lyric Square won the Innovation Award, while King Street restaurant L'Amorosa made its debut in the awards as Best New Business.

They were among businesses of all shapes and sizes, including pubs, estate agents, restaurants and hairdressers from across the borough triumphing in 14 categories at Hammersmith Town Hall on November 26.

Here is a full list of winners:

Best New Business 
WINNER: L’Amorosa 
RUNNER-UP: Funky Juice

Innovation Award 
WINNER: Firefly 
RUNNER-UP: Horton and Garton

Marketing Award 
WINNER: Horton and Garton 
RUNNER-UP: Azou

Best Customer Service 
WINNER: The Andover Arms 
RUNNER-UP: Cherry Red

Best Business Supporter of the Community 
WINNER: Works4U 
RUNNER-UP: Finlay Brewer

Best Creative Business 
WINNER: The Music House for Children 
RUNNER-UP: Ugli Campus

Best Food Business 
WINNER: Azou 
RUNNER-UP: The Andover Arms

Best Shepherds Bush Business 
WINNER:  Ugli Campus 
RUNNER-UP: KSKa Architects

Best Hammersmith Business 
WINNER: Works4U 
RUNNER-UP: Azou

Best Fulham Business 
WINNER: Becky Blooms 
RUNNER-UP: Environ Property Services

Best Independent Local Business 
WINNER: Horton and Garton 
RUNNERS-UP: Azou and Frost Meadowcroft

Employee of the Year 
WINNER: Bonnie, Cherry Red 
RUNNER-UP: Clarissa Stoneham, H&F Citizens Advice Bureau

My Favourite Business 
WINNER: Bush Theatre 
RUNNER-UP: Shoots & Leaves

People’s Choice (public vote) 
WINNER: Azou 
RUNNER-UP: Naama (Deli W12 7LL)

You can see a gallery of pictures taken at the awards here>

Cllr Andrew Jones, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, says: "The success of local businesses small and large is vital to the future of Hammersmith & Fulham’s economy, and I commend all this year’s winners for their hard-won awards. We now look forward to working ever more closely with local firms to make sure all parts of our borough enjoy a thriving business environment."

Tomorrow, December 6, the council is supporting a special Festive Market in North End Road when, for the first time, Becky and other stallholders will be selling their products in a traffic- free environment. You can find out more details here.

December 5, 2014