INDEPENDENT businesses across south Essex have received the coveted Muddy Stilettos awards in its 11th year.

Winners of the hotly contested 2024 Muddy Stilettos Regional Awards have been announced with 21 businesses winning the lifestyle crowns across the county.

Readers of the award-winning lifestyle website have been nominating and voting in their hundreds of thousands for their favourite independent businesses across the different categories from best destination pub to best boutique stay and more.

Reaching more than 10 million people nationally in eight weeks - with more than 515,000 votes and nominations cast - this was the most popular Muddy Awards to date.

Here is the list of all of the winners in south Essex:

  • Best Arts, Culture and Theatre: Thameside Theatre in Thurrock
  • Best Beauty Salon/Clinic: Aesthetics of Essex based in Upminster, Rayleigh and Maldon
  • Best Café: Market West in Rochford

  • Best Boutique Stay: Downham Hall

  • Best Children’s Business: The Little Dining Club in Southend

  • Best Farmshop/Deli: Nanny Kay's Farm Shop in Wickford
  • Best Fitness Instructor: Alexandra Underwood, Elixir Fitness in Brentwood
  • Best Hair Salon: Chopp Hair in Chalkwell
  • Best Hotel: Roslin Beach Hotel in Southend
  • Best Restaurant: Layalina in Billericay
  • Best Yoga/Pilates Studio: The Yoga Club Billericay

All regional winners in Essex, along with winners from the other counties, automatically go through to the 2024 national awards and five businesses in each category will be picked by the Muddy Stilettos Editors to go through to the national finals, with the "best of the best" winners crowned in July.

The full list of Muddy Awards 2024 Winners across all 28 counties is available at muddystilettos.co.uk/awards/counties.