By Andrew Starke
More than 520 businesses have been nominated for the 2010 City of Sydney Business Awards, with the Small Bar category one of two new additions.
More than twice as many members of the public have nominated their favourite business for this years awards and over 41,500 votes have already been tallied – an 18 percent increase from 2009.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said the record participation in voting and nominations showed small and medium businesses play a pivotal role in the City of Sydney.
“There are 18,000 small and medium businesses in the City centre and its surrounds and the City of Sydney Business Awards are a chance for us to recognise how important these businesses are to the vitality and viability of our city,” Moore said.
“Our small and medium sized businesses help to make Sydney the economic heart of Australia and are a significant contributor to the economic health of the City, our state and the nation."
10 nominations were received for the new Small Bar category, which Moore said reflected Sydney’s growing small bar culture and the hunger for alternative venues to large clubs and pubs.
The six businesses with the most online or SMS votes in each category have now qualified as finalists.
The finalists in the Small Bars Category are:
- Absinthesalon
- Balcony Bar
- Grasshopper Bar
- Pocket Bar
- Small Bar
- The Hive Bar
The finalists in the Pubs, Hotels, Nightclubs and Venues Category are:
- Bowlers Club at 99onyork
- Cargo Bar
- Mr B's Hotel
- NSW Leagues' Club
- The Australian Heritage Hotel
-
Wynyard Hotel
The winners will be announced at the 2010 City of Sydney Business Awards Gala Dinner hosted by David Koch on Monday September 20 2010.