A LAUNCH event marking the 10th anniversary of the Reading Retail Awards was held on Wednesday evening.

The awards are free to enter and have been designed to recognise and reward outstanding retailing, service and dining.

There are three new categories this year, including Best New Store, Pub of the Year and Outstanding Achievement Award.

The nomination process is simple and is open until July 26.

Entry forms can be collected from the information desks in either The Oracle or The Broad Street Mall.

The culmination of the next few months will be the glittering black tie awards evening, which will take place on September 28 at the Hilton Hotel.

Tickets will be available to purchase, priced at £75 from the Reading Retail Awards website from June.

Categories & Sponsors:

1. Best New Store – Sponsored by Reading BID Central

2. Cafes, Coffee and Lunch – Sponsored by Premier & Angels School of Motoring

3. Best Customer Service – Sponsored by Reading Buses

4. Restaurant of the Year

5. Pub of the Year

6. Independent Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Insight6

7. Multiple Retailer of the Year

8. Manager of the Year - Sponsored by Hammerson

9. Caring for the Community – Sponsored by IKEA

10. Hair & Beauty

11. Health and Wellbeing – Sponsored by Specsavers

12. Outstanding Achievement Award – Sponsored by Reading BID Abbey Quarter

13. Retailer of the Year - chosen by the judging panel