First of all, a massive thank you to everyone who has taken part so far in the Muddy Stiletto Awards this year – we’ve seen an incredible rise of 100% in readers nominating on the Awards compared to last year, so you’re clearly in love with local too!

I’m always a bit conflicted at this point in the Awards. It’s super-fun to discover Cornwall’s cool indie businesses, and see which village or town is having a ‘moment’ – Launceston and Newquay, looks like it’s you this year! And  I love telling the excited Finalists they’ve made it through. But there are so many incredible businesses whose journey stops today (though get in touch if you think we should be featuring you on the blog anyway – I’m all ears!).

The Finals start and voting opens on Wednesday 15 May at 9am. They come and go in just 7 days, so if you love a local business and want to give it a pat on the back, head to the Awards site and do your bit before it slips your mind (yeah, I know what you’re like) because the Finalist with the most votes will be crowned Winner.

Right, that’s enough blather from me. Time to meet the Finalists. Who gets your vote?

MUDDY AWARD FINALISTS 2019

Art Gallery:  The Byre Gallery (Millbrook); Tregony Gallery (Truro); Penlee House Gallery (Penzance); Circle Contemporary (Wadebridge); Padstow Gallery (Padstow)

Bar: Toast Wine Bar (Newquay); Rhubarb and Sage (Wadebridge), Tom Thumb (Newquay); Silco Searoom (St Ives); The Chintz Symposium (Falmouth)

Beauty Salon: Banbury’s Beauty Spa (Launceston); Beautique (Newquay); BB Beauty (St Austell); Nevaeh Hair and Beauty (St Austell); The Blossom Room (Newquay)

Bookshop:  Lost in Books (Lostwithiel); Beerwolf Books (Falmouth); Barton Books (Penzance); The Edge of the World Bookshop (Penzance); Hurley Books (Mevagissey)

Boutique Stay: Mount Haven Hotel (Marazion); Talland Bay Hotel (Talland Bay); Lewinnick Lodge (Newquay); Trewornan Manor (Wadebridge); Venton Vean (Penzance)

Café: Emily’s (Truro); Jam Jar (Newquay); The Sorting Office (St Agnes); Woods Café (Cardinham Woods); Teacup Tearoom (Mevagissey)

Children’s Business: The Happy Fox (Perranporth); Elf and Zip (Truro); Badger Forest School (Cardinham Woods); Squashbox Theatre (Penzance); Lottie & Lysh (Newquay)

Day Spa:  The Headland Spa (Newquay); The Scarlet Spa (Mawgan Porth); St Michaels Spa (Falmouth); Crantock Bay Spa (Crantock); Una Spa (St Ives)

Destination Pub:  The Pandora Inn (Restronguet); The Old Inn & Restaurant (St Breward); The Travellers Rest (Newquay); The Heron Inn (Malpas); The Cornish Arms (Hayle)

Family Attraction: The Lost Gardens of Heligan (Pentewan); Kingsurf Surf School (Mawgan Porth); Charlie Bears (Launceston); Lappa Valley Steam Railway (St Newlyn East); St Michael’s Mount (Marazion)

Farm Shop/Deli:  Hilltop Farm Shop (Camelford); Boscastle Farm Shop (Boscastle); Tre, Pol & Pen (nr Launceston); Trevilley Farm Shop (Newquay), Lobbs Farm Shop (nr St Austell)

Fitness Instructor:  Angie Smith (St Austell); Emelia Thomas (Perranporth); Becky Bennett (Truro); Natalie Jose (Penzance); Jen Lawry (Newlyn & Penzance)

Florist:  Twigs & Greens (Hayle); Flowers by Donna Cornish (Launceston); Zennor Wild (Zennor); The Bloom Room (Wadebridge); Hayley Scott Blooms (Newquay)

Gift Shop: The Crabb Pot (Looe); Winifred & Mabel (Wadebridge); Zebediahs (Launceston); The Craft Collective (Redruth), Lovingly Local (Saltash)

Hair Salon:  Ro Hair (Newquay); Cornwall Curl Specialist Blew Belle (Truro); Marzipan Hair (Truro); Clare Cowling Boutique Hair Salons (Padstow & St Merryn); Red Hairdressing (Liskeard)

Interiors Store:  Alice in Scandiland (Lostwithiel); Willow & Stone (Falmouth); Jo & Co (Wadebridge); Illustrated Living (Truro); No.56 (Penzance)

Jewellery Store:  Catch The Sunrise (Newquay); Justin Duance (Penzance); Lucy Kemp (Hayle); Canary Blue (Truro); The Old Farmhouse Jewellery (Penzance)

Local Producer (Food/Drink):  Cornish Moo (Launceston); Zach’s Ice Lollies (Bude); Moomaid of Zennor (Zennor); Tregida Smokehouse (Launceston); Little Bakehouse at Launceston

Newcomer:  Truro Cookery School (Truro); Pica Rico (Penzance); SandBox (Newquay); Botanical Atelier (Falmouth); The Coffee Hut (Helston)

Photographer: Matt Menhenett, Edge of the Map (Newquay); Olivia Bayly Photography (Perranporth); Photography with Grace (Newquay); Images Photography (Newquay); Checkered Photography (Redruth)

Restaurant: Oliver’s (Falmouth); Kahuna (Newquay); The Fish House (Newquay); The Shore (Penzance); C-Bay Bistro (Crantock)

Theatre/Arts Venue: The Acorn (Penzance); Regal Cinema (Redruth); Old Bakery Studios (Truro); Rogue Theatre (Tehidy Woods); Penlee Park Open Air Theatre (Penzance)

Women’s Store:  Syrup & Salt (Wadebridge); Roo’s Beach (Porth); Little Boutique (Truro); Ula Clothing (Hayle); Coastal Bridal (Mevagissey)

Yoga/Pilates Instructor: Kerry King, Pilates (Looe); Jen Harvey, Yoga (Newquay); Emily Green, Pilates (Wadebridge); Amy Jones, Yoga (St Agnes); Marina Huxley, Pilates (St Agnes & Wadebridge)