Our army of mystery shoppers have been pounding the streets of St Albans for weeks putting all  nominated traders to the test.

With that process completed the Retailer of the Year committee met on Friday to select the five short-listed traders in each category.

All will be invited to the 2013 Retailer of the Year gala awards dinner which will be held at the Alban Arena on Monday, June 24.

Tickets are also now on sale for the event. Priced at £6 they can be purchased at the Tourism Information Centre which is in the Town Hall, in Market Place, St Albans.

The short-listed traders for the 2013 Retailer of the Year Awards are:

Specialist Shops

• Waterstones, St Peters Street  
• Steamer Trading Cookshop, St Peters Street
• FunZone Fancy Dress & Dancewear, High Oaks  
• Printed Clothing Ltd , Verulam Road 
• Cuthberts Toys, Christopher Place

Fashion & Accessories

• Moda in Pelle, Market Place
• Monsoon, Market Place
• Jigsaw, St Peters Street
• Gladrags, Heritage  Close
• Carousel The Hand Bag Boutique, Village Arcade

Cafes & Restaurants

• Bar Espresso, Victoria Street
• L'Italiana, French Row
• Darcys Restaurant, Hatfield Road 
• Singhli, Holywell Hill 
• Freddie’s, Adelaide Street

Market Traders

• John's Fabrics
• Colin Wright, Bird Seed Stall
• The Cheese Wheeler
• Sycamore Whole Foods
• Poulters Fish

Food & Drink

• Dixie’s Cupcakery, Market Place
• A&C Meats, Catherine Street
• Buongiorno Italia, Lattimore Road
• Hatch, The Maltings
• Tomoka Spirits Boutique Christopher Place

Hair & Beauty

• Ginger & Lime, Hatfield Road
• Alternative Barbering Co,  George Street
• Wilde about Hair, French Row
• The Body Shop, The Maltings
• Eve and Adam, Catherine Street