Local businesses from across Weymouth came together at Ebike Café, this week for an uplifting awards evening recognising the people, passion and pride that continue to drive the town forward.
Hosted by We Are Weymouth, the town’s Business Improvement District (BID), the event celebrated established businesses, new arrivals and those who consistently go the extra mile to support town-wide events, seasonal trails and community initiatives – painting a clear picture of a town that is active, ambitious and collaborative.
With more than 630 businesses represented by the BID and almost 50 new businesses opening, expanding or changing hands during 2025, the evening delivered a confident message: Weymouth is growing, evolving and investing in itself.
Celebrating the Heartbeat of the Town
The evening opened with Certificates of Recognition, honouring long-standing businesses that have helped shape Weymouth across generations. Spanning hospitality, retail, accommodation, attractions, services and the night-time economy, these awards recognised businesses known for their consistency, resilience and commitment to the town, often working quietly behind the scenes to help Weymouth thrive.
Awards were also presented to businesses demonstrating outstanding participation throughout the year, recognising those who embraced themed weekends, dressed their windows, engaged the public and helped bring events to life.
A special participation award was presented to Weymouth Mobility, recognised for its exceptional commitment across every single event, from adapting a mobility scooter to transport Santa, transforming into a pirate boat, and becoming a ghost ship at Halloween, truly embodying the spirit of community, and business engagement.
New Business of the Year Reflects Confidence in Weymouth
One of the most powerful moments of the night came with the New Business of the Year – Weymouth award, celebrating the confidence that entrepreneurs continue to place in the town. Throughout 2025, Weymouth welcomed almost 50 new or evolving businesses, including well known national names such as Primark alongside a growing number of independents. This award was presented to Rolls & More, praised for its enthusiasm, creativity and consistent engagement with town initiatives since opening on Maiden street.
Christmas Sparkle Competition Engages the Public
The evening concluded with the results of the Christmas Sparkle Window Competition, which saw a record 57 business windows entered and 627 public votes cast.
Six sector winners were announced, alongside retail runners up and winner. This year also introduced a new “Best of the Best” award, recognising a display that truly came to life after dark and received the most votes across all categories.
Both the Winning Retail award and ‘Best of the Best’ awards were won by Bibi’s Boutique & Home, which secured overwhelming public support.
Thrilled by the recognition ‘Bibi Boutique & Home’ Owner, Sara Evans said: “Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for us – your support genuinely means the world. A huge thank you must also go to our incredible team, who work tirelessly all year round to ensure our shops not only look beautiful but also feel warm and welcoming. I want to say a special thank you to Heléna and Lisa for collecting the award on our behalf as I couldn’t personally be there.
The recognition is something we are extremely proud of, and we are so grateful to be part of such a supportive community.
Congratulations to all the other winners and everyone else who took part. Thank you to Dawn from We Are Weymouth and Josephine at E-Bike for providing a lovely evening.”
A Town Worth Celebrating
Speaking at the event, Dawn Rondeau-Irvine, Chief Operations Officer at We Are Weymouth, said: “Weymouth is not a town of doom and gloom – it is a town of community, creativity and growth.
“What makes Weymouth special is the shared pride and willingness to show up for one another. These awards are about recognising the people behind the shutters, counters and doors who believe in this town and invest in it year after year.
Weymouth is worth visiting, worth investing in and worth celebrating – and nights like this remind us just how much heart and energy this town has.”
Looking Ahead
The evening closed with an invitation for businesses to continue shaping Weymouth’s future together, including a formal invitation to the We Are Weymouth AGM to be held aboard the Coastal Vibes boat.
As the celebrations drew to a close, the message was clear: Weymouth is moving forward – proudly, collectively and with confidence.
