Byron businesses celebrated with sushi and spritz at laid-back awards night

BYRON Bay’s business community let down its hair last week, celebrating in true Byron style with a laid-back awards night for the Uniquely Byron Business Awards at much-loved Japanese restaurant and karaoke venue Tokyo Doll.

In place of a formal three-course sit-down dinner, guests grazed on sushi rolls and sipped Brookie’s Blood Orange Spritz at the event, which was hosted by Indigenous chef Mindy Woods from Karkalla on Country.

Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce president Matt Williamson said the gathering provided the opportunity to celebrate all local businesses, not just the winners.

“It’s an awards night, but it’s an awards night Byron style,” he said.

“We’re going to have a bit of fun with it.”

Seventeen awards were presented across a wide range of categories. Paradiso nightclub Byron Bay emerged as the standout of the night, claiming both After Dark: Outstanding Evening Economy Experience and the prestigious Business of the Year.

The venue, which opened in January in the former Locura and Lovers Lane space, was designed specifically for live music, featuring full acoustic treatment and a Void Acoustics sound system.

Adaptive surf legend Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart, who lost his leg at age 15, accepted The Pass: Excellence in Surf & Ocean Culture award on behalf of the Australian Pro Adaptive Surf Championships, held in March.

Other winners included Our Timeless Threads, recognised for Peace, Love & Mungbeans: Outstanding Community Organisation, and Planet Corroboree, which received The Deadlys: Outstanding First Nations Business or Organisation.

Major sponsors supporting this year’s awards included the Commonwealth Bank, family law service Richardson Murray, and project management firm Marcon Consultancy.

For the full list of winners, see the Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.