People are being encouraged to recognise the festive retailers showing what St Albans “has to offer”.

The top festive taverns and festive shop window displays in St Albans are set to be decided as the next stage of the Retailer of the Year awards gets underway.

Eric Roberts, who is a member of the St Albans Civic Society, said: “I think it is important to promote the city centre and make people more aware of what St Albans still has to offer.

“It is still quite an attractive and distinctive shopping and leisure destination with many independent businesses that need to be recognised.”

People have been naming their favourite shops and businesses around St Albans City Centre located in St Peters Street, Catherine Street, London Road, Chequer Street, the High Street, the top part of Verulam Road and Holywell Hill.

Mystery shoppers will visit the businessesbefore the shortlisted retailers will be announced on January 2.

Now the organisers of the competition will also visit different pubs around the city centre on December 15 to decide the winner of the festive pubs category.

The competition began nearly ten years ago as the brainchild of Cllr Roma Mills, who represents Batchwood and Martin Buhagiar, the former editor of the Review.

Cllr Mills, who represents the Batchwood Ward, said: “This is your chance to give your favourite shop or hair salon a real boost.”

What is your favourite festive pub or festive window in St Albans? Let us know by emailing rachel.russell@london.newsquest.co.uk