Well. Apparently we’re Highly Commended now.
After 32 years of selling strange things from a little shop in Preston, somebody finally let us into a proper awards ceremony.
And we came home Highly Commended for Outstanding Achievement in Retail at the 2026 Preston High Street Heroes Awards.
84,000 votes. And apparently quite a few were for us
The 2026 Preston High Street Heroes Awards were held at the Guild Lounge on 7 October 2026, celebrating the people and businesses that help make Preston city centre what it is.
The awards were organised in partnership with Preston BID and Visit Preston, hosted by John Gillmore and Danny Bee, with actress Sherrie Hewson joining the celebrations.
So this wasn’t somebody in a back room deciding we’d behaved ourselves for long enough.
You lot voted for us.
Action Records nicked it lol
We were Highly Commended in Outstanding Achievement – Retail.
The winner was Gordon Gibson of Action Records.
So yes. Action Records nicked it. 😂
Fair play.
If you’re going to get beaten by somebody, getting beaten by another proper Preston institution isn’t exactly a tragedy.
Gordon also won Retail Manager of the Year and Customer Service Legend – Retail, and Action Records won Independent Retailer of the Year. Hes gonna need a bigger shop for the trophies alone. Much deserved too tbh x
Elsewhere, Jonny Yates of Winckley Street Ale House won Outstanding Achievement – Leisure, and Mel Close of Disability Equality North West received the Dougie Lowe City Ambassador Award.
The cheer was better than the certificate
The best bit wasn’t actually the bit of paper.
It was hearing what happened when our name was called.
The room properly went up.
After 33 years in Preston, hearing a room full of people cheering Willy Banjo was genuinely special.
A small part of people’s Preston memories
We’ve been here since 1994.
We’ve watched Preston change around us, painted and repainted the walls, dragged stock around festivals, stopped doing festivals, sold some completely ridiculous things and somehow we’re still here.
One of the nicest things about running Willy Banjo for this long is hearing people’s stories.
People come in now who first visited us as teenagers.
Some remember buying their first grinder here. Some remember festival supplies. Some remember something daft hanging from the ceiling twenty years ago that even we can’t remember selling.
And lately we’ve had loads of people walking in saying:
“I’ve lived in Preston for years. How have I never been in here?”
We’re extremely Preston proud to be a small part of loads of people’s memories of growing up in P-Town.
A proper night for Preston
The High Street Heroes Awards aren’t just about shops.
They recognise pubs, bars, restaurants, market traders, managers, customer-service legends, events and community people who help keep Preston city centre alive.
That’s probably why the night felt as good as it did.
It wasn’t just businesses congratulating themselves. It was a room full of people who actually give a shit about Preston.
Thank you, you lot
Thank you so much for all your votes, comments and love.
None of it is possible without you guys.
Thank you to everyone who’s been coming through our door since 1993, and everyone who’s only just discovered us.
And thank you to Preston BID and Visit Preston for putting the whole thing together.
The crew scrubbed up.
The Mayor was very gracious about the company she was keeping.
And we’ve blacked out our own eyes.
Old habits.
Watch our take on the night on Instagram →
Never been in?
Willy Banjo
13a Lowthian Street
Preston
PR1 2EP
Come and have a nosey, see the graffiti and say hello.
30 Years of Graffiti on the Willy Banjo Walls →
For the full 2026 awards results, see Preston BID’s High Street Heroes page.
Highly Commended. Mildly insufferable about it.
Ta very much.
Me, Jake, Whoo…? and Vermin Munky.