These are all the winners of the Chichester Observer's Chichester and District Business Awards 2026 held at Chichester Festival Theatre
Every vibrant community needs wonderful, innovative, local businesses that underpin its economy. The Chichester Observer’s Chichester and District Business Awards 2026 showed just how rich the area is with these creative, quality enterprises.
This was the second year that the Chichester Observer has organised the awards which were again generously hosted by the Chichester Festival Theatre.
A huge number of entries from every corner of the district gave the judging panel – comprising Natasha McLeod, Cllr Harsha Desai, Danielle Dunfield, and Joe Rocks – the toughest of missions.
Guest speakers from the theatre – Liz McCarthy-Nield - and the University of Chichester – Federica Bocciarelli – were welcomed by CDC cabinet member Cllr Harsha Desai. The event was hosted and presented by myself in my capacity as Editor At Large with Iconic Media Group, publishers of the Observer Series and SussexWorld.
Special thanks were given to the event sponsors: Chichester District Council (Main Partner); The Great Sussex Way (Associate Sponsor); Category sponsors: University of Chichester, Biffa and West Sussex County Council working in Partnership, Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers, Chichester BID; Showmen Event Group; the CFT; and Genesis Town Planning for the drinks reception.
There was huge congratulations and much cheering for the winners and highly commended.
Full results: Best Customer Service Initiative - Winner: CareYourWay Chichester. Highly commended: Continue Arcades Chichester, Guardian Angel Carers Chichester, House of Hearing Chichester, Q Hair and Beauty.
Professional Services Business of the Year - Winner: The Neurodiversity Academy. Highly commended: Cathedral Wealth Management.
Sustainable Business of the Year - Winner: Secret Linen Store. Highly commended: Vintro Vintage and Retro.
Start Up / New Business of the year - Winner: Zephyr Group. Highly commended: Fernleigh.
Small Independent Business of the Year - Winner: Red Card. Highly commended: Maggie & Belle, Vintro Vintage and Retro, Wilson Design Associates.
Medium Independent Business of the Year - Winner: Comics, Games and Coffee. Highly commended: The Modern Calligraphy Company.
Large Independent Business of the year - Winner: Q Hair and Beauty. Highly commended: Blue Spire Limited.
Innovation Project of the year - Winner: Fandango Digital. Highly commended: Chichester Urban Winery (The Ghost At The Feast).
Charity of the Year - Winner: Sage House. Highly commended: St Wilfrid's Hospice, UKHarvest.
Sustainable Champion of the Year - Winner: Lucy Ferre.
Tourism, Hospitality or Retail Business of the Year - Two winners: Fernleigh and Rocking Horse. Highly commended: La Fish.