The Galashiels Heartland Awards 2026, held on the 27th of March at Galashiels Rugby Club, showed just how strong the town’s community spirit is. With over 10,000 votes cast and more than 350 businesses, and tens of ‘Great Galaleans’ nominated, the support was incredible. A huge congratulations to every nominee and thank you to everyone who voted.
After all of the nominations and votes were counted, the finalists were confirmed. Here are the businesses that made it to the final stage of the awards…
Event of the Year:
Braw Lads’ Gathering
Hogmanay at MacArts
GAOS Joseph 26
Sponsored by Galashiels Mobility
Best Food & Drink of the Year:
The Salmon Inn
1953
The Coffee Tree
Sponsored by Belhaven Brewery
Best Charity or Voluntary Organisation of the Year:
MacArts
Borders Pet Rescue
Hike and Bike Hub
Sponsored by Hayward Sanderson Trust
Best Health & Fitness of the Year:
Borders Podiatry and Performance
MOTEVE8
TriFitness
Sponsored by SPG Group
Best Leisure and Entertainment of the Year:
MacArts
Pavilion Cinema
GAOS
Sponsored by McDonald’s
Best Sports Club the Year:
Gala Rugby Club
Gala Fairydean Rovers
Galashiels Amateur Swimming Society
Sponsored by ClubSport Eildon
Best Retail & Shopping the Year:
INIS
Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall
Untangled Yarns
Sponsored by Ryan Edgar Roofing
Best Beauty, Hair & Care of the Year:
The Luxury Look
Burgh Barbers
Aura Hair and Beauty
Sponsored by The Trophy Guy
Best Service & Repair of the Year:
Border Computing
The Trophy Guy
Ryan Edgar Roofing
Sponsored by Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall
New Business of the Year:
Café Auberge
Sew For You
HAY Wellbeing
Sponsored by Fonehouse Galashiels
Business of the Year:
Untangled Yarns
Ryan Edgar Roofing
Borders Podiatry and Performance
Sponsored by Scottish Borders Council
Great Galalean of the Year:
Lauren Jamieson
Gordon Keddie
Judith Cleghorn
Sponsored by Energise Galashiels Trust
And the winners are …
Event of the Year:
GAOS Joseph 26
Best Food & Drink of the Year:
The Salmon Inn
Best Charity or Voluntary Organisation of the Year:
MacArts
Best Health & Fitness of the Year:
Borders Podiatry and Performance
Best Leisure and Entertainment of the Year:
MacArts
Best Sports Club the Year:
Gala Fairydean Rovers
Best Retail & Shopping the Year:
Untangled Yarns
Best Beauty, Hair & Care of the Year:
The Luxury Look
Best Service & Repair of the Year:
Ryan Edgar Roofing
New Business of the Year:
Café Auberge
Business of the Year:
Untangled Yarns
Great Galalean of the Year:
Gordon Keddie
These awards are truly community owned and made possible thanks to the generous support of our main sponsor BID for Galashiels, who helped make this year’s awards even bigger and maximise their impact across the town.
Thank you also to our category sponsors, Gala Rugby Club for hosting, The Trophy Guy for the fantastic awards our winners can cherish and DC Repair Group for sponsoring the welcome drinks.
And of course, thank you to everyone who shared the love and voted – Galashiels is the true winner with love truly at the heart of it.
With love from Galashiels.
