Last Friday Ian and I went to a very swanky awards event organised by Touch FM. It was the inaugural Pride of Stratford Awards and we were one of the finalists for Town Outlet of the Year. We dressed up in all our 1940's finery, including a wig from Matthew Curtis the hairdressers next door. On arrival we were given a drink and had to walk up the red carpet to have our photos taken, then on into the ballroom for a sit down 5 course meal which was delicious. We were sitting on a finalists table and it was fun getting to know people from all walks of life who were up for many different business and community awards. The stage at the front was backed by an enormous screen and there were ones further back in the room too and the whole event was fed by live camera operated by the college media students. The event was very slick and it felt extraordinary to amongst the business world of Stratford when we are so young in the life of The Fourteas. Our catogory was the third one up so we had little time to prepare ourselves but they read our the nominees and showed a short clip about the tearooms and then the gold envelope was opened and to the obvious excitement of the prize giver we had won!!! Ian and I could hardly believe it and I have no idea how I got to the stage or what I managed to say in my acceptance speech I was so gobsmacked. The cheers from the whole room when we won was extaordinary and showed how people have taken The Fourteas to their hearts. After recieving the lovely swan statue we were whisked away to do a radio interview for Touch FM and then back to the room for the rest of the awards. It was a lovely evening and Ian and I were on cloud nine all night. I could not have achieved this without the support of my loyal and lovely staff and the best suppliers in Stratford.
The awards is now sitting pride of place in the tearoom and already people are coming in because they have heard about it, which cant be bad for business.
I am so proud of what we have achieved so far and now I am looking to the future with anticipation.
