The shortlists have been announced for this year's SCEPTRE Awards, and centres as far apart as Bideford in Devon and Longford in Ireland will be waiting with baited breath as the golden envelopes are opened at the awards dinner on June 20.
The many and varied entries were whittled down to the shortlist by Shopping Centre's panel of industry experts, and now our mystery shoppers will be heading out to visit the shortlisted centres all over the country to check that the reality on the ground lives up to the claims of each awards entry.
At the same time, votes have been coming in thick and fast for this year's Retailer of the Year Award, and the three Irish categories, which are based on a poll of Shopping Centre and Shopping Centre Ireland readers. Now is your last chance to vote - the polls are closing soon. To register your votes, log on to http://www.sceptre-awards.co.uk.
And why not come along to recognise excellence in the shopping centre profession at the awards dinner on June 20 at the Dorchester in London's Park Lane? Shopping Centre editor Graham Parker says: "Tables are going fast, and I would advise anyone who wants to be at the Awards dinner to get in touch with us quickly.
"Over the past seven years the SCEPTRE Awards have won a reputation for good food, a fun atmosphere, great entertainment and more than a few surprises.
"As usual, we've spent a good deal of time making sure that June 20 will be a great night out. I can promise those who make the effort to be at the Dorchester that they won't forget the experience in a long time."
For further information call Stephanie Smallwood on +44 1293 867654.
SCEPTRE shortlists
Centre manager of the year
(up to 150,000 sq ft)
sponsored by Alpine Selection
? Diana Golding, Coppergate, York
? Jane McLeod, Atlantic Village, Bideford
? Roy Sage, Longford shopping centre, Longford ROI
Centre manager of the year
(150,001 to 500,000 sq ft)
sponsored by Photo-Me International
? Greg Lumley, Ashford Designer Outlet
? Steve Simmons, King's Walk, Gloucester
? Andy Talbot, West Orchards, Coventry
Centre manager of the year
(over 500,001 sq ft)
sponsored by Advance Security UK
? Susan Harris, Frenchgate, Doncaster
? Gordon McKinnon, Trafford Centre
? Mark Rycraft, Middleton Grange, Hartlepool
Customer service team
sponsored by Shopping Centre
? Festival Place, Basingstoke
? West Quay, Southampton
? White Rose, Leeds
Young achiever
sponsored by Insitu Services
? Atif Choudhary, The Mall Walthamstow
? Charlotte Fletcher, West One
? Carly North, Lakeside
Marketing manager
sponsored by LDJ Design & Display
? Karen Carr, MetroCentre
? Anna Pringle, Kingdon Centre Glenrothes
? Sarah Thornley, Castlepoint
Mall promotion
sponsored by Promotion Space
? Joss Davidge, Because Experiential Marketing, for Pampers
? Kate Stanley, Donaldsons, for 'Mummy Mornings'
? John Turner, Clarks Village, for 'Win Christmas on Us'
Town centre manager
sponsored by SGP Property Services
? Mo Aswat, Bedford
? Joanne Jennings, Belfast
Environmental management
sponsored by Envirowise
? Charlotte Burton, Meadowhall (for shopfit waste)
? Nicola Mendelssohn, Tunsgate Square, Guildford
? Catherine Riley, Kirkgate Centre, Bradford
Short term merchant
sponsored by Retail Profile Europe
? Bath Aqua Glass
? The Red Image
? Xtras
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