People in Armagh and across the wider Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon borough are being invited to nominate a favourite local business in a competition offering £2,000 in Town & City Gift Cards.
The Northern Ireland’s Favourite Local Business 2026 campaign has been backed by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, which is encouraging residents to recognise the businesses they believe deserve wider attention.
How the competition works
Residents can enter for free by naming a local business and explaining why they think it should win. The competition is open to a broad range of businesses, including shops, restaurants, salons, hotels, attractions and services.
The business receiving the most nominations will receive a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card. The person who nominated the winning business will also receive a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card, creating a combined prize fund of £2,000.
Nominations can be made online at www.lovelocalwin.net. The closing date is 30 November 2026.
Shop ABC Gift Card links businesses across the borough
The campaign follows the launch of the Shop ABC Gift Card by the council in 2025. The card is designed for use across the borough, including in Armagh City, Banbridge, Craigavon, Dromore, Portadown and Lurgan.
More than 160 businesses accept the card, according to the council. Participating businesses include national names such as New Look and Subway, as well as independent shops, bakeries, cafés, salons, opticians, chemists, gyms, attractions and hotels.
The Shop ABC Gift Card is available in physical and digital formats. The council says it is used both as a gift and as an employee reward.
What the organisers say
The competition was launched alongside research from Town & City Gift Cards. The research found that 99% of respondents wanted to support local businesses, while 73% said supporting them had become more important during the previous 12 months.
“We introduced the Shop ABC Gift Card to drive footfall and spend to our local businesses, across a range of sectors. Local businesses are the heart of our communities, and we’re proud to celebrate them on a national stage through the NI’s Favourite Local Business competition. Whether it’s your favourite coffee shop, the attraction you visit every year or the shop that always delivers outstanding service, nominate them as your Favourite Local Business so they can receive the recognition they deserve.”
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Councillor Mary O’Dowd, made the statement during the launch at Bean Coffee in Lurgan.
“The Shop ABC Gift Card is the ultimate ‘shop local’ Gift Card, showcasing the best local businesses in the borough. Through the Northern Ireland’s Favourite Local Business, we’re shining a light on the hardworking local businesses in the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon borough and beyond. We’ll be celebrating nominations as they come in, so please take a moment to nominate.”
Colin Munro, CEO of Miconex, also encouraged people to submit an entry before the deadline.