BOLTON companies have scooped a variety of awards in a prestigious national competition to find The Business of the Year 2017.

The awards are run annually by marketing and support organisation thebestof which is committed to raising the profile of local, independent businesses nationally. The competition was based on customer reviews and the local winners were members of thebestofbolton owned by David and Gaynor Ramsden.

The Bolton Business of the Year was the Ocean Palace Chinese Restaurant which received 319 reviews. Second place with 256 reviews was The Chinese Buffet and third place with 255 reviews was Fidgets Soft Play Centre.

The other first place winners were Frasers Butcher (Butchers Category), Perfect Finish (Car Body Repairs and Care), Crompton Way Motors (Car Dealers, Used), Central Carpets (Carpets and Rugs), Room Four Dessert (Coffee Shops and Tea Rooms), Bridge Conference Centre (Conference and Event Services), Aspire Dace and Stage (Dance Schools and Classes), The Last Drop Village Hotel & Spa (Hotels and Accommodation), Amity Law (Legal Services), Bolton Osteopathic Clinic (Osteopaths) and Scruffymonkey Digital Media (Web Design).

Second placed nationally were Fish Motors (Car Dealers, Used), Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme (Charities), Fidgets Soft Play Centre (Children’s Activities and Parties), Full Circle IT (Computer and IT Services), Bolton Tuition Centre (Education and Tuition), Fieldings Porter Solicitors (Legal Services), Bain Plumbing Services (Plumbing and Heating) and Bolton Alarms (Security Services).

Third placed were Bolton St Catherine’s Academy (Conference and Event Services), Smithills Open Farm (Days Out and Attractions), Julie Lomax Photography (Photographers), Sumners Property Maintenance (Property Maintenance and Services) and Ania Pankiewicz Photography (Wedding Photographers).

Mr Ramsden said: “Once again Bolton businesses have featured hugely in thebestof UK Business of the Year competition. It’s down to individual businesses to give the sort of service which deserves great feedback and obviously lots of local people believe Bolton businesses are doing a great job.

“I’d like to congratulate all those taking part and it’s fantastic to be recognised among the winners.”