BATG Winners of 2nd National Award

Amazingly we’ve done it again! Beauty at the Gate has brought home it's second national award win, BABTAC UK Salon of the Year 2016! This year, the competition was believed to be the closest yet – and a shock twist was even revealed too – but as always, it was an absolutely fabulous night.

On 12th June, Paul and Sam travelled down to London for the 2016 BABTAC & CIBTAC Awards, one of the most prestigious events in the UK beauty industry. Established in 1977, the British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (BABTAC) has become a leading organisation for highly trained beauty professionals across the country, and every year, its 12,000 members are invited to showcase their skills and enter the annual awards. With so many talented, hard working salons and therapists nominated, we knew that this would be an inspiring evening.

This year, the Awards were held at The Hurlingham Club, a magnificent, traditional estate and Private Members Clubbordering the Thames in Fulham, and the theme was Bond, James Bond. We enjoyed a delicious three-course meal and entertainment before the awards began with the evening's host, Chairman, therapist and business owner Jason Phillips, and Guest Host Elaine Stoddart, a renowned, highly qualified medical aesthetician.

Beauty at the Gate was nominated for two awards, and first up was Best Social Media, sponsored by Look Good Feel Better. We take great care in our social media and are thrilled by the engagement we receive from our clients and the local online community, and so were hopeful for this award. The deserving winners were Bello The Salon in Southampton, a wonderful business with thriving Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. We wish them a huge congratulations.

Then came our second category of the evening, Medium Salon of the Year. The competition was extremely tough, nominated alongside five other amazing salons from across the UK. Presenting the award was Krestyna Batty from Janssen Cosmetics, the sponsor of this category. After some laughter with the crowd, it was time to announce the winner... only, there was a twist. As the envelope was opened, there were two names – the competition was too close! For the first time in BABTAC history, two salons were named joint winners as the judges simply couldn't choose! We are now UK Salon of the Year 2016 with The Foot Health Clinic, Isle of Man, and we are proud to share this prize with such a fantastic salon.

Beauty at the Gate is the 1st ever salon to hold the BABTAC and the Professional Beauty UK Salon of the Year award at the same time. To be nominated alongside the industry's best is incredible in itself, but to win two prestigious awards within just five months is more than we could have ever imagined.

It was an honour to be able to spend the evening meeting and catching up with like-minded salon owners and influential industry professionals, and being told that we are viewed as role models and an inspiration to others was incredibly humbling. Now, we're looking forward to seeing what new opportunities await us. As always it has been a wonderful team effort and everyone has played their part although we do need to really congratulate both Mollie and Keeley who looked after the mystery shop. Keeley seems to love getting these award mystery shops!