Seven Swindon businesses have scooped lifestyle awards that highlight independent businesses across the country.

The Muddy Stilettos Awards 2022 came to a close last week, with the winners for Wiltshire revealed. It was the culmination of six weeks of voting for the best local businesses across 28 Muddy counties, in partnership with the national sponsor Healthily. 

This year, 75,000 businesses were nominated and 765,000 votes were cast in 2022.

All votes were cast by the readers of Muddy Stilettos, so the website offering an 'urban guide to the countryside' had no influence on the results.

The newly-opened Bert's Books, located in Old Town in Swindon, was selected as the winner for the best bookshop in the county.

Owner Alex Call opened the online store in 2019, offering book bundles that fit all types of readers.

Over lockdown, the store grew so much that Alex decided to open a physical store in May - only a month and a half before being selected as the winner of the best bookshop in Wiltshire.

Some of the other Swindon winners are The Eternal Optimist in Old Town, which won the award for the best bar, Trousseaux Bridal as the best bridal store, baby-class company Stretches & Strokes as the best vhildren's business, Hannah Brown Jewellery as the best jeweller, Little Grazey as best new lifestyle start-up, and Kapada Vintage as best women's fashion store.

The Little Gem in Royal Wootton Bassett won an award for the best cafe in Wiltshire.

All of the Wiltshire winners are listed below.

THE MUDDY STILETTOS AWARDS WINNERS 2022

ART SPACE: Fisherton Mill (Salisbury)

BAR: The Eternal Optimist (Swindon)

BEAUTY SALON: Park Lane Beauty (Chippenham)

BOOKSHOP: Bert’s Books (Swindon)

BRIDAL STORE: Trousseaux Bridal (Swindon)

BOUTIQUE STAY: The Methuen Arms (Corsham)

CAFÉ: The Little Gem (Royal Wootton Bassett)

CHILDREN’S BUSINESS: Stretches & Strokes (Swindon)

DAY SPA: Vitality Day Spa (Bradford on Avon)

DESTINATION PUB: The Langley Tap (Langley Burrell)

FAMILY ATTRACTION: The Hope Nature Centre (Southwick)

FARM SHOP/DELI: Hartley Farm (Winsley)

FITNESS INSTRUCTOR: Angie Bell PT (Warminster)

FLORIST: Theodora’s Flowers (Corsham)

HAIR SALON: Gallery Hair and Nails (Aldbourne)

HOTEL: The Old Bell (Malmesbury)

JEWELLER: Hannah Brown Jewellery (Swindon)

LIFESTYLE STORE: Strawberry Blue (Bradford on Avon)

LOCAL PRODUCER (FOOD/DRINK): Wild Rye Sourdough (Trowbridge)

NEW LIFESTYLE START-UP: Little Grazey (Swindon)

PHOTOGRAPHER: Amber Louise Photography (Trowbridge)

RESTAURANT: Harp & Crown (Gastard)

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS: Undressed (Trowbridge)

THEATRE/ARTS VENUE: The Pound Arts Centre (Corsham)

WEDDING VENUE: Wellington Barn (Calne)

WOMEN’S FASHION STORE: Kapada Vintage (Swindon)

YOGA/PILATES STUDIO: Precision Pilates Studio (Corsham)