WINNERS! Four South Hams businesses are named the best in Devon at the Muddy Stilettos Awards 2022

Four South Hams businesses have won their Muddy Stilettos categories and been named the best in Devon.

20 South Hams-based businesses were named as finalists in the Muddy Stilettos Awards 2022, and four have now won, including our very own member The Cricket Inn at Beesands, which won Best Destination Pub in the county.

Charlotte Burdett, Marketing Manager for The Cricket Inn, said: “We are absolutely blown away to have won best destination pub in Devon for the Muddy Stilettos awards!

“We are very proud of our entire team, from the kitchen to the front of house, they are all individually responsible for making The Cricket Inn what it is; a place where both our extremely supportive locals, as well as our visitors from far and wide, habitually return to dine or stay with us and throw their support behind us at any possible time.

“On behalf of Scott, Rachael, Rachel and The Cricket Inn Team, we also want to thank everyone who took the time and voted for us to win, and for all of the lovely messages of congratulations we have had since.”

The other winners were the East Gate Bookshop in Totnes, named the Best Bookshop; Fifty5a of Totnes, named Best Women’s Clothing Store, and Pennywell Farm, Buckfastleigh, named Best Family Attraction.

Nigel and Claire, East Gate Bookshop, Totnes, said: “During June 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic we found the perfect premises for a bookshop and after a lot of struggles we eventually managed to get a loan and took the huge risk to open our bookshop in December 2020.

“We have to pinch ourselves that eighteen months later we have won this award and we can't thank Muddy Stilettos enough for nominating us and are humbled and overwhelmed that so many people voted for us.

“We are a local, family-run independent business and have worked so hard to make our bookshop as inclusive and community-centred as we can be. We have both worked in the book industry for many years, but never owned our own shop, so this really is something of a dream come true for us and we are so delighted that all our hard work has been recognised with this award.”

Malin, owner of Fifty5a, said she was “very chuffed”, adding: “This is amazing news! We are feeling over the moon and are so grateful to our loyal customers and social media followers who believe in us and who voted for us!”

We contacted Pennywell Farm for a comment but at the time of going to press they have not responded.