The votes are in and the winners announced for this year’s ‘Christmas Magic Displays Competition’, organised by Horsham District Council.
The competition was part of the Council’s ‘Buy Local Gift Happy’ campaign to support the local economy this festive season.
Over 70 businesses and charities from across Horsham District’s high streets got into the festive spirit, sharing photos online of their Christmassy windows and displays so they could take part in the competition.
The public were invited to celebrate their favourite displays by voting via an online gallery webpage or instore visits, with the chance to win fantastic prizes. Over 2400 shoppers and visitors from across the District and beyond placed their vote.
The vote determined three Public’s Choice winners, which were:
- Public’s Choice Window Display: The Butterfly Project, Horsham
- Public’s Choice Internal Display: The Pulbrew, Pulborough
- Public’s Choice Charity Display: The Mary How Trust, Pulborough
This year awards have been also given to winning displays in and around seven towns and villages in Horsham District. These were:
- Public's Choice Billingshurst Display: Rocking Horse, Billingshurst
- Public's Choice Henfield Display: Jasmines, Henfield
- Public's Choice Pulborough Display: The Pulbrew, Pulborough
- Public's Choice Southwater Display: The Children's Society, Southwater
- Public's Choice Steyning Display: The Little Sweet Shop, Steyning
- Public's Choice Storrington Display: Stitch, Storrington
- Public's Choice Off-High-Street Display: Tottington Manor, Henfield.
Your Horsham (Horsham Business Improvement District) have also sponsored three awards for the businesses within their area of Horsham town centre and their winners were:
- 1st place: Sloan Eyecare, Horsham
- 2nd place: Carmela Deli, Horsham
- 3rd place: Amici Coffee Co, Horsham
This year a new award for the Most Sustainable Display was introduced, judged by Kinder Living, a local CIC who support sustainable local businesses. This was awarded to Revival Dry Cleaners in Southwater for going the extra mile to creatively design their display with sustainability in mind. Using off cuts of fabric in the garlands, their display’s overall theme created an important narrative around waste textiles.
All winners receive a framed certificate to mark their success and will benefit from additional publicity in the lead up to Christmas, showcasing their wonderful displays.
Presenting the awards this year was Horsham District Council’s Chairman Cllr Tony Bevis who commented:
With more businesses entering than ever before and more voters than ever before, this was a bumper year for our Christmas Magic Displays Competition.
Thanks to you all for your overwhelming response, proving just how popular our annual Christmas competition has become.Thanks also to the many businesses who took part in the competition this year, you really have pulled out all the stops to make our District a really special place to be.
Image gallery
The Pulbrew Pulborough: Best Internal Display
The Mary How Trust: Best Charity Display
Sloan Opticians: Your Horsham First Place
Carmela Deli: Your Horsham Second Place
Amici: Your Horsham Third Place
Rockinghorse Billingshurst: Best Display for Billingshurst
Jasmine's Henfield: Best Display for Jasmine's
The Children's Society: Best Display for Southwater
The Little Sweet Shop: Best Display for Steyning
Stitch: Best Display for Storrington
Image gallery
Revival Dry Cleaners: Most Sustainable Display
Tottington Manor: Best Off High Street Display