It was a full house as the bingo hall was crowned at Sutton’s Business of the Year.
It was a full house as The family-run Lynchpin Leisure also took home the Best Business for Hospitality and Leisure award, at a back-tie ceremony hosted by journalist and broadcaster David Blackmore at the Holiday Inn Sutton on November 17.
Manager Tony Lynch, who attended the awards with his two daughters, said: “I feel totally shocked and honoured.
“We are one of only two independent bingo clubs remaining in London. We do a lot for our members and visitors to the club and we are part of the community. It’s great to be acknowledged.”
It was also a double win for energy and telecommunication consultancy MAXIMeyes, which took the customer service and entrepreneur of the year awards.
Managing director Shamir Jiwa, who set up the business in 2004, said: “It was me, myself and I for three long, hard years and there more than 100 times when I felt like giving up, but I didn’t.
“It was really tough. My advice to any entrepreneur is if you have a good idea and you think you can do it, you just have to soldier through.”
And he paid credit to his team for upholding his belief that open communication is key to customer service saying: “I started the business on a foundation to revolutionise the customer experience. It is not me on the frontline dealing with customers, it is my team and it is a credit to them and their hard work.”
New this year was the award for Sutton’s Best Breakfast, which was open to venues across the borough.
Entries were judged on customer feedback as well a formal application, with Peckish Cafe taking the accolade.
Other winners on the night included Sutton Housing Partnership, which was named Best Employer, digital marketing agency Nutcracker Agency won the Best New Business award and Independent Retailer of the Year was interior furnishing company Ambience Home.
The awards, organised by Successful Sutton, Opportunity Sutton and Sutton Chamber of Commerce, reward and celebrate commercial excellence, innovation and entrepreneurial flair within the borough.
Ross Feeney, chief executive of Successful Sutton, said: “We were very proud to have been able to stage these awards, which were a real celebration of business, and successful businesses, in Sutton.
“We want to see a vibrant town centre and a vibrant borough. What the awards did is demonstrate loudly and proudly that Sutton is a place where business is flourishing.”
More than £700 was raised on the night in support of Sutton Mencap.
The awards are backed by Sutton Council and headline sponsor CNM Estates, and supported by a number of businesses in the borough including Metro Bank, Everyone Active, Riva Sutton and Mears.
A full list of award winners is below.
Best New Business: Nutcracker Agency Ltd
Sutton’s Best Breakfast: Peckish Cafe
Best Business in Marketing & Social Media: Be Beautiful Health & Beauty Centre
Best SME Business: JA Autos
Best Employer: Sutton Housing Partnership
Best Charity or Social Enterprise: Nickel Support
Best Business in Hospitality & Leisure: Lynchpin Leisure Ltd
Best Independent Retailer: Ambience Home
Entrepreneur of the Year: Shamir Jiwa, MAXIMeyes UK Ltd
Best Business for Customer Service: MAXIMeyes UK Ltd
Best Business for Innovation & Growth: Ice Blue Medical
Business of the Year: Lynchpin Leisure Ltd
