Best Loved Award

Best Loved Award

The Best Loved Award recognises and celebrates old buildings getting the maintenance they deserve, and the people looking after them. After all, caring for old buildings really is a labour of love. 

The final winners are selected by public vote. These are the ‘best loved’ buildings in the UK and Ireland, both by their caretakers and by the public. 

Maintenance is at the heart of the SPAB Approach, and this Award celebrates those who, in the guiding words of SPAB co-founder William Morris, “stave off decay by daily care”. 

Author, history broadcaster and social media star Alice Loxton (a.k.a. History Alice) will present our Best Loved Award at the SPAB Heritage Awards Ceremony this November.

Submit your entries or nominations by Wednesday 14 August 2024. You can find out more below, or get inspired by our previous shortlist and winners

Any questions? Email awards@spab.org.uk.

What are we looking for? 

  • Buildings that are publicly accessible, publicly owned and/or have community use or value, e.g. a village hall, community centre, cultural centre, faith building, pub or shop 
  • Buildings in a good state of repair 
  • Evidence of regular maintenance being undertaken. This could include photos, a Maintenance Plan or a brief outline summary of the annual maintenance routine 
  • Maintenance using materials and techniques appropriate to the building 
  • The care of key elements including roofs, walls, windows, doors, rainwater goods 
  • Buildings must be in the UK or Republic of Ireland (including Channel Islands and Isle of Man) 

How to enter 

Please enter by Wednesday 14 August via the online form. We need to know: 

  • Your name 

  • The name of the building 

  • How it meets the criteria above 

  • Who is involved in looking after it, e.g. owners, managers, users, professional advisers, craftspeople, volunteers, the local community 

  • Why you think the building deserves this Award 

You need to include: 

  • A minimum of three and a maximum of six high-resolution images (JPGs or PNGs) that show the building and how it meets the criteria (300dpi minimum) 
  • Image credits and description saved in the file names, e.g. ‘Gutters © William Morris’ 
  • You must have the photographer’s permission to submit these images 

All Awards are free to enter. Shortlisted entries will be required to purchase at least one in-person ticket to the Awards Ceremony (£59 Members, £69 Non-Members). 

We can only consider entries that meet the criteria above.