A BRIDE-TO-BE has nominated the bridal shop from which she bought her wedding dress for The Press’s Shop Of The Year award.

Angela Sherwood said the owner of Acomb-based Mila Brides, Jo Millner, deserved recognition for making a great success of her shop at a difficult time for retailers.

“I am getting married in October to Steve Shepherd and my dress has come from Mila Brides, which opened in October last year,” said Angela, of Acomb. “Jo Millner is a lovely lady and nothing is too much trouble for her.

“I found it really hard to choose between all the beautiful dresses in the shop, but Jo was really helpful and patient with me.

“She goes out of her way to provide excellent customer service and caters particularly to larger ladies, who are not always treated very well in bridal shops.”

She said Jo was also happy to open the shop on an evening, if people could not make it during normal opening hours.

Jo said she used to be a wedding planner in the south, and when she moved to York decided to get some premises and sell bridal wear and other items while continuing as a wedding planner.

“It’s going really well,” she said. “We get customers from all over North Yorkshire and Humberside, and from Leeds.” The Shop Of The Year award, intended to reward and recognise exceptional quality of service, is part of the York Means Business campaign, which aims to promote and support businesses across York, North and East Yorkshire during the recession.

The winner will enjoy a night for two at York’s luxurious Dean Court Hotel, overlooking the Minster, before a champagne breakfast and then a trip in a stretch limo with White Stretch Limousines of Riccall to York Racecourse, to attend The Press’ Family Raceday next month.

• Nominations for the award have now closed. The winner will be announced later this month.