With more than 2,000 nominations received for this year's Retailer of the Year awards, the 2014 competition could be our biggest and best yet.

As of midday on Friday May 2 a total of 102 traders had been entered but there is still time to nominate your favourite if you cannot see them in our list below.

The deadline for nominations is midnight on Friday May 9.

There are six categories to choose from: cafes and restaurants, markets trader, hair and beauty, specialist shops, food and drink, and fashion and accessories.

The competition is a joint initiative between the Review, St Albans District Council, St Albans Civic Society and St Albans District Chamber of Commerce to raise the profile of independent city centre traders and is now in its seventh year.

This year's competition will once again culminate in an awards evening at the Alban Arena on June 23.

You can nominate traders by tweeting our dedicated Retailer of the Year page: @StAlbansROTY Simply tell us the name of the shop/cafe/restaurant/trader and where they are based.

You can also nominate a retailer via text.  Just text the word ‘retailer’ followed by the name and address of the business to 80360. Texts cost 50p.

Finally, you can nominate a retailer by filling out the form in this week’s Review and posting it to the news desk or by emailing your entry to revieweditor@london.newsquest.co.uk

  • This year the competition has again been backed by generous local businesses. L'Italiana is sponsoring the overall Retailer of the Year prize. The Federation of Small Businesses is sponsoring the Cafes and Restaurants category; The Maltings has sponsored Fashion and Accessories; Christopher Place has sponsored the Specialist Shops category and the District Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the STAR award. Hatch has agreed to sponsor the Hair and Beauty category while Alternative Barbering Co are sponsoring Food & Drink and Waterstones the Markets Trader category.

Nominated retailers:

Cafes and Restaurants

Jamie’s Italian, Chequer Street
Carluccio’s Christopher Place
Darcy’s Restaurant, Hatfield Road
Fishy Delishy, Catherine Street
Verdi’s Trattoria, Clarence Road
Café Roma, St Peters Street
Bar Espresso, Victoria Street
Bar Meze, Adelaide Street
Shaken Cow, High Street
Brasserie Blanc, Verulam Road
Barrissimo, St Peters Street
The Waffle House, St Michael’s Street
Lussmans, Waxhouse Gate
Hatch, The Maltings
Loch Fyne, Verulam Road
Soko Coffee, St Albans station
Zizzi, High Street
Merchant Tea and Coffee Company, Market Place
BHS Restaurant, St Peters Street
Freddie’s, Adelaide Street
L’Italiana, French Row
Chilli Bar &Kitchen, London Road
The Courtyard Café, Hatfield Road
Dolce Italia, St Peter’s Street
The Secret Garden Café, 9a George Street
The Garden House, Redbourn Road
Café NES, Civic Centre

Food and drink

Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shop, French Row
Simmons Bakers, French Row
Cornish Pasty Company, Market Place
Dixie’s Cupcakery, Market Place
Ellis Butchers, Victoria Street
Buongiorno Italia, Lattimore Road
Hotel Chocolat, Chequer St
The Pudding Stop, College Place
A&C Meats, Catherine Street
Crumbs ‘N’ All Caribbean Cakes, Colney Heath Lane
Baked Nation, 102 Victoria Street

Hair and beauty

Alternative Barbering Co, George Street
Champneys, Market Place
Eve and Adam Day Spa, Catherine Street
Sarah Iovane Hair, London Road
Wilde About Hair, French Row
Greys Hair & Beauty, Christoper Place
Mosaic Hair Studio,The Quadrant
Sanrizz, The Maltings
Lush, The Maltings
Hair on the Heath, Sandridge Road
St Albans Barbers, Catherine Street
Elle-es Hair Studio, Victoria Street

Markets Trader

The Cheesewheeler
John’s Fabrics
Toys and Collectables (outside Jigsaw)
Alban Blinds
Bread Stall
Toy Stall (outside Clarks)
Vince the plant man
Cheeseman (Dutch)
Sycamore Foods
St Albans Wholefoods
Peter the flower man (near M&S)
Grove Fruits
Fruit and Veg (near BHS)
Second hand clothes stall (near Jack Wills)
Anthony Lewis Photography
The Card Stall
Chicken Run Farm Shop
Carpet Walker, (Opposite Clark’s, Saturday)
So Cosy

Specialist Shops

Empire Records, Heritage Close
Tomoka Spirits Boutique, Christopher Place
Flowers,Flowers, Christopher Place
The White Company, Christopher Place
WH Smiths, Market Place
Chloe James Lifestyle, High Street
Oxfam Bookshop, Catherine Street
Stevensons, Victoria Street
Chantilly Interiors, Catherine Street
Roope Opticians, George Street
L.A James, George Street
Marks & Spencer, St Peter’s Street
Poundworld, St Peters Street
Alphamarque, Russet Drive
Fun zone Fancy Dress, High Oaks
AG Studios, Central Drive
Lloyds Pharmacy, Russell Avenue

Fashion and accessories

Little Viking, George Street
LK Bennett, Christopher Place
Strides, George Street
D Copperfield, Chequer Street
Jane &Dada, High Street
Janes Shoes,
Phase Eight, Market Place
The Dressing Room, High Street
Carousel The Handbag Boutique, High Street
Republic, The Maltings
Little Viking, George Street
Jack Wills, Market Place
Gladrags, Heritage Close
Long Tall Sally, George Street
Simply French, Holywell Hill
Accessorize, Market Place