NEARLY 40 businesses from Stroud district are in the running to win prestigious county-wide awards.

The Muddy Stilettos Awards include 27 different industry categories ranging from Hair Salons to Fitness Instructors and Restaurants to Theatres.

They are organised by the blog, which carries the same name, launched initially in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire and written by ex Red, Marie Claire and Independent on Sunday journalist Hero Brown.

The blog now runs across 18 English counties, including Gloucestershire, acting as the ‘ultimate urban guide to the countryside’.

It hopes to “find and celebrate the most genuinely brilliant, unique, quirky, exciting businesses in the area.”

There are 38 Stroud district businesses competing for awards in their industries such as The Malthouse Bar & Kitchen in Stroud, The Slimbridge Wetland Centre and The Edge Café in Wotton.

All the winners will receive: A beautifully-designed Muddy Stilettos Awards gold window rosette and certificate, editorial coverage in Muddy Stilettos, assistance in achieving coverage in regional media, the chance to network with other winners at the awards drinks and trophies available on request (at the winner’s cost).

Each of the finalists receive a silver certificate and window rosette.

To vote click here.

Voting closes at 12pm tomorrow (Friday, June 16) and the winners’ drinks reception will be held from 6pm-8pm on Wednesday, June 21 at the Pavilion in the Museum in the Park, Stroud.

Below are all the nominated businesses by industry, along with their location.

Art Gallery:

Museum in the Park (Stroud)

Stroud Valleys Artspace (Stroud)

Prema (Uley)

Bar:

The Vault (Nailsworth)

Beauty Salon:

Essentially You (Nailsworth)

Just Beauty (Stroud)

Bookshop:

Stroud Bookshop (Stroud)

Yellow Lighted Bookshops (Nailsworth & Tetbury)

Boutique Stay:

The Painswick (Painswick)

Café:

The Edge Café (Wotton)

Star Anise (Stroud)

The Canteen (Nailsworth)

Complementary Therapy Centre:

Stroud Natural Health Clinc (Stroud)

Destination Pub:

The Woolpack (Slad)

Amberley Inn (Amberley)

Family Attraction:

Giffords Circus (Stroud)

Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Slimbridge)

Painswick Rococo Gardens (Painswick)

Farmshop/Deli:

Jolly Nice (Frampton Mansell)

Fitness Instructor:

Forma Gymnastic Strength Training (Gloucester & Stroud)

Fitbing Personal Training (Stroud)

Florist:

The Lily Pad (Stroud)

Jacaranda Flowers (Nailsworth)

Gift Shop:

Fourteen Lifestyle (Stroud)

Made in Stroud (Stroud)

Glamping:

Fireside Glamping (Chalford)

Thistledown Farm (Nympsfield)

Hair Salon:

Harriet’s Organic Hairdressing (Stroud)

The Beauty Barn (Stroud)

Interiors Store:

Malt House Emporium (Stroud)

Jewellery Store:

Armed & Gorgeous (Nailsworth)

Time After Time Vintage (Stroud)

Local Producer (Food and Drink):

Salt Bakehouse (Stonehouse)

Kate Crunch Handmade Confectionary (Stroud)

Men’s Store:

James Lear (Nailsworth)

Photographer:

Kayleigh Adams Photography (Chalford)

Restaurant:

The Malthouse Bar & Kitchen (Stroud)

Theatre:

The Cotswold Playhouse (Stroud)

Wine Merchant:

Woodchester Valley’s Cellar Door (South Woodchester)