Get ready, New England – the region’s most exciting celebration of local excellence is back! Best in the New England returns Monday morning, and this year’s event is set to be bigger and better than ever before, with new categories, and even more chances for your favourite local businesses and organisations to shine.
This year, there are 35 categories in total – 28 for businesses and, for the first time, 7 community categories. That means even more opportunities to recognise and celebrate the incredible people, places, and services that make our region so special.
Not all of the business categories are the same as last year. Crowd favourites like Best Mechanic, Best Baker, and Best Butcher are back again, but some categories have made way for businesses that missed out last time. And some are back but likely to see a new winner, such as Best Hairdresser, with last year’s winner Ash Hair Collective currently closed while Ash becomes a mum.
This year’s edition will not see a return of Best of the Best, but instead we’re introducing a Community Edition of Best in the New England, launching in Week 5. These new additions make the competition more inclusive and better than ever, ensuring that not only businesses, but also community groups and not-for-profits get the recognition they deserve.
One of the most exciting new features for 2025 is we are introducing a Best Town in New England title, which will go to the town with the most category winners across the entire competition. It’s not about how many total votes a town gets – it’s about how many different businesses and organisations from your town come out on top.
Last year saw some friendly rivalries develop between towns like Uralla, Inverell, and Glen Innes, each rallying behind their local favourites and going all out to secure wins. And lots of very small and special businesses beat out bigger and more well known businesses with the support of their loyal customers. That spirit of support and local pride is exactly what Best in the New England is all about!
Taking part is simple and fun. Every morning at 6am, a new category will go live on the New England Times website. We have expanded the voting hours this year, so you’ll have until midnight that day to vote for the business or organisation you think is the best in that category.
You can vote for as many different businesses or organisations and in as many categories as you like – but if you vote multiple times for the same business in the same category your extra votes won’t count. You do have to vote via the form on the website too – posting on social media will not count.
At approximately 7.30am each day we’ll announce the winner of the previous day’s category – determined solely by how many votes they got.
Each day’s Category winner will receive $500 in advertising credit with the New England Times, and each week, one lucky voter will be randomly selected to win $500 cash. Whether you’re a business owner, a local supporter, or just love being part of the community, there are plenty of reasons to get involved.
And here’s the fun part – we’re not telling you in advance which categories are coming. You’ll have to check in each morning to see what’s up next.
Best in the New England is the biggest promotion of the year for the New England Times, and it’s a great chance to bring the region together, celebrate what makes it unique, and give our wonderful local businesses and organisations the spotlight they deserve. Last year’s success stories are proof that this competition can open doors, build new customer bases, and shine a well-earned light on the hardworking people behind the scenes.
So, mark your calendar and set your alarm, and if you haven’t already – join our email list. It all starts tomorrow at 6am. Be ready to vote, celebrate, and help your town and your favourites rise to the top in Best in the New England 2025! Whether it’s the corner cafe that makes your favourite coffee, the mechanic who always goes the extra mile, or the local footy club that brings the town together – now is the time to show your support.
See our tips on how to give yourself the best chance of winning
Don’t miss any of the important stories from around the region. Subscribe to our email list.