Leamington Society launches special awards as it celebrates 70 years of championing the town.
The Leamington Society has announced the launch of the Leamington Society Awards 2026, inviting residents, architects, businesses and community groups to nominate projects that have helped improve the buildings, streets and green spaces of Royal Leamington Spa.
This year’s awards are particularly significant as the Society celebrates its 70th anniversary, marking seven decades of championing the town’s distinctive character and encouraging thoughtful design, conservation and civic pride.
First established in 1976, the Leamington Society Awards recognise projects that make a positive contribution to the town’s built and landscaped environment — from sensitive restorations and imaginative renovations to new buildings, shopfront improvements, landscaping and public art.
Projects completed between 1 July 2024 and 15 July 2026 are eligible for nomination.
Nominations open on 30 March and close on 15 July, and anyone who knows of a project that has enhanced the town is encouraged to submit an entry.
Over the years the awards have recognised a wide range of projects across Leamington, celebrating the people, organisations and businesses whose care and creativity help shape the town’s future.
There will be two additional awards presented, The Bill Gibbons Trophy will be awarded for the most outstanding improvement to the street scene and The Tag Award for a project which is outstanding with it’s creativity, craftsmanship and lasting impact on the community.
Ignaty Dyakov-Richmond, Chair of the Leamington Society, said:
“As we celebrate the Society’s 70th anniversary, these awards feel especially meaningful. For seventy years the Leamington Society has worked to protect what makes this town special while encouraging the best new ideas in architecture, design and landscaping.
The awards are a wonderful way to recognise the many people who invest time, skill and imagination in improving our town, whether that’s restoring a historic building, creating a beautiful garden, or designing something new that enhances our streets.
We hope people across Leamington will help us celebrate the very best of the town by putting forward projects they admire.”
Previous winners have spoken about the pride they felt in seeing their work recognised as part of the town’s evolving story.
Following nominations, a panel of judges will review submissions and visit shortlisted projects before announcing the winners at a special awards event later in the year.
The Leamington Society hopes the awards will not only celebrate great projects but also inspire future improvements across the town.
Further information and nomination details can be found at:
https://leamingtonsociety.org/2026-awards-submission/
Winners Announced at The Leamington Society Awards 2024 – A Night Celebrating Architectural Excellence and Community Impact
The Leamington Society is delighted to announce the winners of the 2024 Leamington Society Awards, held on Wednesday, 16 October at the Dormer Conference Centre. This biennial event, which celebrates the best in local design, architecture, and environmental improvement, brought together community members, architects, developers, and local stakeholders for an evening of recognition and celebration.
Since its founding in 1956, the Leamington Society has championed high standards in urban planning, architectural design, and heritage preservation. The 2024 awards continued this tradition by honouring a range of projects that have made a significant impact on the town’s physical environment, reflecting the Society’s mission to protect and enhance the character of Leamington Spa.
Award Highlights:
- The Bill Gibbons Trophy, a prestigious accolade awarded for the most outstanding private improvement to the street scene, was presented to Ms Susie Roberts, recognised for her exceptional contribution in 11 Binswood Avenue.
- The TAG Award, a new category sponsored by TAG Properties, was awarded to Mr Kul Dhesi for The Terrace which impressed the judging panel with its creativity, craftsmanship, and lasting positive impact on the community.
Leamington Society Chair, Barbara Lynn, shared their thoughts on the evening:
“We are incredibly proud of this year’s award recipients. Each project represents a meaningful effort to enhance the beauty, functionality, and heritage of Leamington Spa. These awards demonstrate the power of thoughtful design and community commitment in shaping the town’s future. We look forward to seeing how these projects inspire further contributions to our urban landscape.”
Celebrating Community Spirit and Design Excellence
The event was a resounding success, with attendees enjoying not only the awards ceremony but also an evening of lively discussions, networking, and shared ideas about the future of Leamington Spa. Guests were treated to wine and canapés, and a vibrant atmosphere that celebrated the town’s rich architectural heritage and forward-looking development.
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Supporters
The Leamington Society extends its gratitude to all sponsors, especially TAG Properties for their generous sponsorship of the TAG Award, and to all the volunteers, judges, and participants who made the evening possible. The success of the Leamington Society Awards would not be possible without the continued support of the local community.
Looking Ahead
The Leamington Society remains dedicated to promoting excellence in design and planning, as well as protecting the historic character of our town. We look forward to the next awards in 2026 and to continuing to work with the community to make Leamington Spa a more beautiful, sustainable, and vibrant place to live.
Here are the winners…
CLICK HERE to see the full presentation plus… if you would like to see the official photographs from the evening taken by Karen Massey Photography, CLICK HERE (the pin to download them is 5743).
About the Awards
The Society presents Awards for improvements in the physical environment (‘the street scene’) of Leamington Spa. The Awards are given for a wide variety of work such as
- restoration of a significant period building,
- a new building or structure,
- improvement to a building,
- a new or restored interior visible to the public,
- a restored or new shop front,
- a landscape, garden, park or planting,
- a sculpture or work of art,
- any other improvement.
In addition the Bill Gibbons trophy is presented for the most impressive nominated private improvement to the street scene. The TAG Award, sponsored by TAG Properties, will be presented for the best renovation.
A panel of judges, led by a distinguished architect from outside Leamington Spa, assesses all nominations. The winners receive certificates from Leamington’s mayor at a public ceremony.