Now in its second year, the Time Out Love London Awards are a celebration of the capital's most loved local businesses. With five categories spanning restaurants, shops, cafes & coffee shops, pubs & bars and local culture, the awards aim to reveal the hidden gems and unsung heroes in every postcode in London, with an emphasis on independent businesses.
From 1 to 29 September, Londoners are invited to nominate their favourite places in each category, giving them a chance to tell other Time Out users what's great about their neighbourhood. Over 10,000 nominations have been cast to date.
Throughout October, the nominations will be whittled down to a maximum of 10 in each category across 93 neighbourhoods around London, and the awards will be opened to voting. Winning venues will be showcased in Time Out magazine and at timeout.com/london in November, where they can be seen by more than 6 million Londoners.
Local London businesses can nominate themselves for a Love London award in their area, and are encouraged to get their customers to back them. An asset pack is available for download at the Time Out website.
The inaugural Love London Awards in 2014 saw over 1,700 businesses nominated, more than 240,000 votes registered. 300 local favourites won a prestigious 'Love London' award, receiving exposure across Time Out’s multimedia platforms.
Camberwell based Pigeon Hole Café, local winner in the café category for the South East in last year's awards, has seen the positive effects of the win in the past 12 months. Co-owner Holly Steidl said, "Winning the Love London Award has been a huge deal for us. It was the confirmation we needed that what we are providing for our community matters. It resulted in lots of new customers through the door, referencing the awards, as well as other businesses looking to list us on their websites, apps and books, which has been invaluable for the marketing of the business."
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London commented, "I'm thrilled to support the Love London Awards 2015. Every corner of this great capital has a cherished place where we love to eat, drink, shop and enjoy the local culture. They are the daily reminders of why we choose to live in the greatest city on the planet. Share your local favourites and I look forward to seeing who you think deserves to come out on top."
The Time Out Love London Awards 2015 is supported by Right Move and the Mayor of London’s Office. To get involved, visit www.timeout.com/lovelondon.