Goldhawk Road's Caffe Bonego Voted W12's Favourite Business

And Bush Hall wins Best Night Time Economy category at H&F Brilliant Business Awards

Team from Caffe Bonego celebrate with H&F Mayor Cllr Daryl Brown

After being open for only a year, Goldhawk Road Balkan Restaurant Caffe Bonego has been voted Shepherd's Bush's favourite business.

Caffe Bonego won the Public Vote in this year's H&F Brilliant Business Awards and its founders were presented with their trophy at a ceremony held at Olympia London on Thursday 21 November.

What's on offer at Caffe Bonego

"We couldn’t believe it when they called out our name," says Caffe Bonego co-founder Snezana Mircovska.

"It’s such an honour to be recognised by our customers as the best business in Shepherds Bush. We are over the moon."

Snezana opened the business with co-founder Ieva Jelaca last year. The eatery Road offers authentic Balkan food and drink, as well as live traditional music at the weekend. You can see what's on offer on the menu here.

Caffe Bonego was among the big winners on a night which saw many local businesses win much deserved recognition.

The two other Public Vote winners were Lumi Power Yoga voted the Best Business in Hammersmith award for the third year running, while Playday Parties was also named the number one business in Fulham for the third consecutive year.

Among businesses based in Shepherd's Bush, Bush Hall picked up the Best Night Time Economy Award - in a new category introduced this year.

Awards were also given to two local firms who started trading at the borough's seasonal markets. Local resident and entrepreneur, Yohannes Miller, picked up the Best Place to Drink accolade for his business On the evening, Hammersmith resident and entrepreneur, Yohannes Miller, picked up the Best Place to Drink accolade for his business Dragon Cat Cafe in Hammersmith Broadway.

Along with his business partner Yen-Ting, he has created the first place in the borough to offer authentic Taiwanese bubble tea.

"I’m absolutely speechless," said Yohannes. " I never thought we had a chance of winning against all the great local pubs and bars we were up against. It was a lovely surprise."

Yohannes and Yen-Ting started out trading at the council’s traffic-free seasonal markets before moving into their own shop in Hammersmith last year, as did IMMYLondon, whose range of contemporary clothing and soft furnishings, using traditional batik materials sourced ethically from Indonesia can currently be seen at pop-up shop Made in H&F in Hammersmith's Kings Mall. It won Best Micro or Nano Business or Sole Trader prize.

"These awards give so much hope and confidence to small independent businesses like mine in H&F," said IMMY London founder Tia Hannaford, pictured above. "The council have been so supportive from the start when I began trading at the traffic-free markets and now look here I am picking up a Brilliant Business award. It’s fantastic."

"Congratulations to all the local businesses who picked up an award this year and all the businesses which were shortlisted," said Cllr Andrew Jones, H&F Cabinet Member for the Economy and the Arts.

"We’re committed to bringing real and lasting change to H&F but it’s only possible with the support and hard work of businesses like the ones honoured at this year’s awards."

Here are the winners in full:

Winners of the H&F Brilliant Business Awards 2019

Best community focussed business or social enterprise

Lumi Foundation

This yoga studio and community has an ambition to bring yoga to all by removing barriers such as money, health and access to facilities.

Best creative business

Made in H&F

A pop-up boutique in Kings Mall, Hammersmith providing affordable opportunities for local artists and designers to sell directly to the public on the high street.