Merthyr businesses are in the spotlight this month as a national competition goes live, with £2,000 in We love Merthyr Gift Cards as a possible prize.
Backed by The Big Heart of Merthyr Tydfil/We Love Merthyr, people can nominate their favourite local business in the competition, free, by giving the name of the Merthyr local business they think deserves to win and a reason. Shops, restaurants, salons, hotels, attractions and services are all eligible to be the UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026.
The UK’s Favourite Local Business which receives the most nominations in the competition will win a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card, such as the We love Merthyr Gift Card, with one person who nominated the winner receiving a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card.
The We Love Merthyr Gift Card launched in 2018 to support local businesses and is led by The Big Heart of Merthyr Tydfil. Around 30 businesses accept the We Love Merthyr Gift Card as payment including Bumbletree, Darlington Opticians, F. Hinds The Jewellers, Haystack Café and The Beauty Box, Aldi and Farm Foods to mention just a few.
Elizabeth Bedford, BID manager for The Big Heart of Merthyr Tydfil, said:
“Local businesses are the heart of Merthyr. We’re backing the UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026 so we can shine a light on our Merthyr local businesses, from beauty salons to barbers, shops to restaurants. Being nominated in the competition would be a huge boost for any business, and a £1,000 We love Merthyr Gift Card for both the winning business and one person who nominated them is a fantastic prize.”
The We love Merthyr Gift Card is part of the multi-award winning Town & City Gift Cards initiative. Over 27,000 local businesses are part of Miconex’s local gift card programs around the world with over £69m of cards sold to date.
The UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026 launches as new research from Town & City Gift Cards shows soaring support for local businesses. 99% of respondents to the 2026 Town & City Gift Cards survey said supporting local businesses/their community was important to them, with 73% saying it has become more important over the past 12 months.
Colin Munro, CEO of Miconex, said:
“It’s brilliant to see the strong support for local businesses in our 2026 research. People want to see their towns and cities thriving, and play their part in keeping the businesses they love open. Buying the We love Merthyr Gift Card as a gift or corporate reward, or nominating a local business in the UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026 are easy ways to show your support for local as we approach the key Christmas trading period.”
Enter the UK’s Favourite Local Business competition free at: www.lovelocalwin.co.uk and watch the video
The competition closes on the 30th November 2026.
