South Shropshire MP Philip Dunne is backing four South Shropshire businesses to win a prestigious national award. 

Four local businesses in South Shropshire have been announced as finalists in the Countryside Alliance Awards – also known as the Rural Oscars. 

The Awards are the Countryside Alliance’s annual celebration of British food & farming, enterprise and heritage through small hard-working businesses. The Rural Oscars are now in their seventeenth year and have become the definitive rural business award to win. They are set apart from other award schemes because they are driven by public nomination, offering customers the chance to say why their favourite businesses are worthy of national acclaim. 

The Rural Oscars received thousands of nominations, and the four regional finalists from South Shropshire are:

1.      Carters of Ludlow in the Butcher category

2.      Local to Ludlow CIC in the Local Food and Drink category

3.      Ludlow Distillery in the Local Food and Drink category

4.      Tally Ho, Bouldon in the Pub category

The winners will be chosen by public vote, and voting is open now and closes on Monday 1 April. Winners will be announced later in May, and will then go forward to compete against category winners from across the country in the grand final. The public can vote online at: https://www.research.net/r/CAA24MMP

Mr Dunne said: 

 “The Countryside Alliance Awards celebrate those businesses that go the extra mile and are the cornerstone of our rural communities. The fact South Shropshire has four regional finalists is a testament to the brilliant rural businesses we have locally, and the excellent service they provide to the community. I commend them for their hard work, will be following their progress . I hope local residents will get behind these businesses, and vote for them to win national recognition.”