Ipswich businesses make Muddy Stilettos Awards 2026 finals
Eleven Ipswich-based businesses have been named finalists in the 2026 Suffolk & Cambridgeshire Muddy Stilettos Awards, with public voting now open until 13:00 on 26 May.
Why it matters: The annual awards, decided entirely by public vote, shine a spotlight on independent businesses across the region, with category winners going on to represent Suffolk & Cambridgeshire at the national level.
The details: Ipswich is represented across 10 categories in this year's regional finals, with 10 finalists in each category competing for the public vote. The Ipswich finalists are:
- Ipswich Regent Theatre – Best Arts, Culture & Theatre
- The Gallery – Best Bar
- Look Wright Aesthetics – Best Beauty Salon / Clinic
- Cub – Best Children's Business
- Alder Carr Farm – Best Farm Shop / Deli
- Suffolk Food Hall – Best Farm Shop / Deli
- Puzzle Boutique – Best Fashion & Interiors
- Renaissance Hair – Best Hair Salon
- The Alchemist – Best Hair Salon
- Nina Parnham – Best Wellbeing Specialist
- Sharon Buckley – Best Wellbeing Specialist
What they're saying: Karen Stewart, owner of Puzzle Boutique, said: "I'm genuinely so grateful to everyone who has taken the time to vote and support Puzzle Boutique. To be nominated and now announced as a finalist is such a special moment. It means the world to me to be recognised in this way, especially alongside so many brilliant local businesses. Independent retail is all about community and I feel incredibly lucky to have such loyal customers behind me."
She added that the boutique has expanded its offering with The Hidden Garden Café situated behind the shop, "where people can shop, meet friends and enjoy a green space in the town centre, making Puzzle even more of a local destination."
The bigger picture: The Muddy Stilettos Awards, organised by the lifestyle magazine of the same name, are free to enter and recognise independent businesses across categories spanning boutiques, cafés, salons, interiors and lifestyle brands. The number of finalists per category has doubled this year compared to previous editions.
What's next: Voting in the regional finals closes at 13:00 on 26 May 2026. Members of the public can cast their votes via the Muddy Stilettos website.
The bottom line: With 11 finalists across 10 categories, Ipswich's independent businesses are well represented in this year's awards – and the outcome is now in the hands of the voting public.
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