THE winners of the fifth Lewes District Business Awards were revealed at a glittering ceremony at the Amex Stadium.

More than 300 of the Lewes District business community were there, including 38 finalists, with 12 trophies presented by comedian Simon Evans.

The biggest award was saved until last with Tomsetts Distribution from Newhaven winning Company of the Year.

The Depot Cinema in Lewes came away with two awards, having won Tourist Destination of the Year and Businessperson of the Year for Creative Director Carmen Slijpen.

She is the first woman to win this award.

Other winners included Richard Soan Roofing Services for Best Customer Service.

Tiny Box Company was named Best Green Business, Barcombe based So Sussex took the Business in the Community award ans Fundraising Auctions was named Best Employer,

Sarah Williams from The Patchwork Cat won the LEAP Entrepreneur of the Year award and Front Room in Seaford was named Small Business of the Year.

The judging panel, chaired by David Sheppard, chairman of Sussex Chamber of Commerce, was tasked with choosing the winners.

Well-respected businesspeople from sponsoring companies made up the panel, including representatives from Allied Irish Bank, Cheesmur Building Contractors, Basepoint, Veolia, Whitespace, Platinum Business Magazine, Wave Leisure Trust, RSE Group, Uniglobe Preferred Travel, LEAP and Viva Lewes.

Winners 2018:

Best Customer Service - sponsored by Basepoint

Winner: Richard Soan Roofing Services

Finalist: Cleankill Pest Control

Finalist: Plants4Presents

Best Green Business - sponsored by Veolia

Winner: Tiny Box Company

Finalist: Depot

Finalist: King’s Academy Ringmer

Food and Drink Destination of The Year - sponsored by Whitespace

Winner: Foodhaven

Finalist: Downsview Dairy Produce Ltd

Best Independent Retailer - Sponsored by Platinum Business

Winner: Alexis Dove Jewellery

Finalist: Alistair Fleming Design

Finalist: Bake Out

Business in the Community - sponsored by Wave Leisure Trust

Winner: So Sussex

Finalist: Lewes Football Club

Finalist: The Runaway

Employer of the Year - sponsored by RSE Group

Winner: Fundraising Auctions

Finalist: Lewes Football Club

Finalist: Seahaven FM

Professional Services Award - sponsored by Allied Irish Bank

Winner: Oakley Property

Finalist: Alistair Fleming Design

Finalist: Mayo Wynne Baxter

Tourist Destination of the Year - sponsored by Uniglobe Preferred Travel

Winner: Depot Cinema

Finalist: Branching Out Adventures

Finalist: Driftwood Garden East Sussex

Finalist: Lewes Light Community Interest Company

Entrepreneur of the Year – sponsored by LEAP

Winner: Sarah Williams, The Patchwork Cat

Finalist: Laura Callaghan Grooms – Plastic Free Baby

Finalist: Ben Clear – Clear Surveys

Finalist: Wendy Reed – The Remarkable Group

Finalist: Brett Wheldon – Solseed Landscapes

Businessperson of the Year - sponsored by Viva Lewes

Winner: Carmen Slijpen, Depot Cinema

Finalist: Richard Light, Fundraising Auctions

Finalist: Victoria Young, Front Room

Small Business of the Year - sponsored by Allied Irish Bank

Winner: Front Room

Finalist: The Beauty Rooms

Finalist: SO SUSSEX

Company of the Year - Sponsored by Cheesmur Building Contractors

Winner: Tomsetts Distribution Ltd

Finalist: Industrial Construction Sussex Ltd

Finalist: Wilson Wilson and Hancock Opticians