An Ashby tanning salon - that was taken over just seven months ago - has been named as the best in the county.

La Zouch, in Bath Street, collected the honour at regional The Englands Business Awards in Nottingham last week.

Milly Baker moved into the salon just after Christmas - but it has already made huge progress.

After beating businesses from Leicester to win the 'Best Tanning Salon in Leicestershire' category, Milly will now go to the national final in November.

Milly told Ashby Nub News that it has been a whirlwind 2024 for the Salon.

She said: "We won 'Best Tanning Salon in Leicestershire' and have been invited to the nationals for this November.

"I took over the business seven months ago now, and since then, have aired on ITV News, and been approved by The Sunbed Association as an accredited sunbed salon.

"It's been a reward for the hard work that's been put in over the last few months.

advertisement

"I wanted to make the salon successful, but you have to put the effort in.

"I still can't quite believe how fast things have happened though and how much we've been noticed."

Milly bought the business from the previous owner with her mum, even though it meant opening just a few days before Christmas.

Since then however, La Zouch has gone from strength to strength.

Milly added: "We were nominated for the award by one of our customers, which was nice.

"That was followed by a mystery shopper who visited us, but we had no idea who that was.

Milly Baker at the awards with friend Demi Blake

"After that, we were invited to Nottingham, and didn't really expect much.

advertisement

"But we ended up winning the Best Salon in Leicestershire award, it was totally unexpected.

"We heard that it wasn't all done on votes, but the mystery shopper is the most important thing.

"There are separate sections in the awards, but there is a salon category and we were up against three others from Leicester."

Milly says the business has been attracting other admirers as well.

She added: "We had a phone call from ITV Central as they were doing a feature on the health risks of tanning salons.

"They wanted to show how to tan responsibly and I was filmed in the salon in Ashby.

"So that was another thing that's happened to us this year.

"But we have also been approved by the Sunbed Association - that was within a month or two of taking over the business.

advertisement

"It's all about how we allow customers to sunbed safely.

"The Association is holding an event called Shine next month, and I think they're planning to show my ITV appearance as part of that."