Gosport Business Awards 2026 shortlist revealed with 25 in the running for top prize
Judging panel have tough job of choosing the best of the best businesses - with the winners due to be unveiled at a night of celebration in November
Drum roll please…!!
The shortlist for the Gosport Business Awards 2026, sponsored by StandardAero UK, is in and shows a wide range of businesses fighting it out in all the categories.
After an intense meeting, the judging panel had the tough task of whittling down the entries in each category as well as deciding who the winners are - which will be revealed in a night of celebration at St Vincent Sixth Form College's Jervis Gallery on Thursday, November 26.
‘It is always so tough when you are comparing some brilliant businesses to pick one which stands out,’ said The News editor in chief Mark Waldron.
‘But as a panel we finally came up with our choices - some were unanimous, others took a number of rounds of conversation before we made the decision. But despite being tough it was such an enjoyable morning as we had a chance to reflect on what a diverse range of great businesses there are in the borough.’
The shortlist for Gosport Business Awards 2026 is:
Independent Cultural and Creativity Business of the Year
- Flamin' Good Crafts
- ThirteenEight
- Tin Trousers
- Zarbers Barbershop
Startup Business of the Year
- Dolly's Vintage Tea Rooms Limited
- Magic Steve
- Sew Tribal
- Teacher Restore Limited
- ThirteenEight
Independent Small Business of the Year Personalcarelifestyleandcommunity
- Flamin' Good Crafts
- Hampshire Home Learning
- The Solent Sauna
- Zarbers Barbershop
Commitment to Supporting Talent in Business
- GoSport Activity Centre Ltd
- Hampshire Heating Services LTD
- KatieAnnDesigns
- Tin Trousers
Independent Small Business of the Year - Retail Hospitality and Consumer-facing
- Dolly's Vintage Tea Rooms Limited
- KatieAnnDesigns
- T By The Sea
- The Book Shop
- The Bridal Hall
- The Scent Edition
Community Contribution Award
- C2U Gosport CIC
- Gosport and Fareham Toy Exchange
- GoSport Activity Centre Ltd
- King’s Academy Gosport Community Hub
- Sean's Safe Space
- ThirteenEight
- Trash Cafe CIC
- Valoris Group Limited
Independent Tourism Hospitality Business of the Year
- Dolly's Vintage Tea Rooms Limited
- GoSport Activity Centre Ltd
Independent Small Business of the Year - Creative Technical and Professional
- Flamin' Good Crafts
- KatieAnnDesigns
- Tin Trousers
- Valoris Group Limited
- Van Junkies
Independent Retail Business of the year
- Diceheads
- The Book Shop
- The Bridal Hall
From each of the winners an overall business of the year will be crowned on the night.
Special guest this year will be entrepreneur Susan Bonnar who, after spending 22 years with the Royal Navy, decided it was time to forge a new career path for herself. A passion for crafting turned into a new business which then transformed into founding The British Craft House - an award-winning online marketplace for independent UK makers which has generated more than £1.5m in sales for small creative businesses across the UK.
Catering on the night will be provided by The Powder Monkey Group.