The 16 winners at this year’s Melton BID Business Awards

Black Dragon Games, which has established a go-to venue for all local board gamers, was named Business of the Year at the presentation evening at Melton Mowbray’s The Harboro Hotel on Friday evening.

It is quite an achievement after 3,500 nominations were made for the 16 categories with the overall top business chosen from the individual winners.

Mayor of Melton, Councillor Jim Adcock, presented the award at the end of the night to Black Dragon Games, which is based on Burton Street and which was also named Best Independent Business.

The business posted on their Facebook page afterwards: “Thank you to everyone in our incredible community who helps to make Black Dragon Games the amazing gaming space that it is.

“And a huge thank you to all of the Black Dragon Games team for the tireless work you put in every day.”

One of the biggest cheers of the night came when Melton Theatre won the Arts & Culture Award – it’s long-term future remains uncertain with a buyer being sought.

Manager Arnie Breen thanked customers, acts, front of house staff, the box office, bar team and Loughborough College Group in a post on Facebook, giving special praise to ‘technicians Josh Hammond and Sheriton Swann who make the magic work’.

The Melton Times spoke to some of the category winners at the event, including Matt Tait, who was delighted to receive the Sports & Exercise Award for Swim Six Hills.

Matt said: “We were elated to be nominated so to win it is fantastic.

"I started it with my wife Rachel and we now have a 50-strong team, a coffee shop, a sauna and a strong community.”

The Noel’s Arms, on Burton Street, reopened in December as a fine dining restaurant and it has clearly made a big impression already to be named Best Restaurant.

Owner Gary Bryan told the Melton Times: “We’ve been open less than a year so to win this award is recognition for all the hard work and effort our team has put in.”

Winner of the Leisure & Tourism award was HistoryFare – a business which offers tours of local sites of interest and historical talks.

"It’s great news to win this,” owner Brian Fare told us.

"We are getting more and more people on our tours every year.”

Winners of this year’s awards:

Arts & Culture – Melton Theatre; Best Beauty Business – Beauty Box Melton; Best Cafe & Coffee Shop – Steam & Bean; Best Independent Business – Black Dragon Games; Health & Wellbeing – Laura Moulds 360 Fitness; Leisure & Tourism – HistoryFare; Best Local Food Producer – Millie’s Meats; Best New Business – Balloon Bar; Best Pub or Hospitality – The Black Swan; Best Restaurant – Noel’s Arms; Best Takeaway – Jasmine House; Outstanding Customer Service Award – Roc-Locks; Professional Services Award – Tenders UK; Sports & Exercise – Swim Six Hills; Sustainability & Environmental Impact – Melton ReCycles; Business Person of the Year – Sarah Robb (Big Bums Little Bums); Business of the Year – Black Dragon Games.