Dorking’s premier entertainment venue, the Dorking Halls, has scooped a top award in the Muddy Awards 2021 as the Best Theatre / Arts Venue in Surrey.
The annual Muddy Awards, from Muddy Stilettos, are a celebration of the very best local independent businesses, those that have been working hard year-round to provide extra special service and superstar products of the highest quality to their local communities and beyond.
Voted for by members of the public, winning a top award is a real badge of honour for local businesses that have faced an especially tough year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. With thousands of votes cast in 2021, the Dorking Halls stood out in its category as being at the heart of the Dorking community, offering excellent service and having a wide programme of live events and screenings.
The art deco theatre, situated on Reigate Road, was built in 1931 and has many original features harking back to that time. Designed by Percy W. Meredith, the Dorking Halls was originally created as a location for the annual Leith Hill Musical Festival under composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, with a focus on the acoustics of the building, with full orchestra performances taking place in the Grand Hall. Having undergone an extensive refurbishment between 1994 and 1997, The Dorking Halls is today a fully-equipped theatre, cinema, café and conference venue across its three halls: the Grand, the Masonic and the Martineau.
Also fondly known as ‘The Muddies’, the Muddy Awards cover a wide range of themes and this year’s finalists’ list was peppered with many outstanding businesses in and around Dorking, hoping to scoop the coveted top award in their categories. Other lucky winners for 2021 within Mole Valley were Ranmore Rise in the Surrey Hills, Westcott (for Best Boutique Stay), The Abinger Hatch, Abinger (for Best Destination Pub) and Bocketts Farm Park, Fetcham (for Best Family Attraction).
Huge congratulations to all those that were shortlisted, the lucky winners and especially the Dorking Halls for winning Best Surrey Theatre / Arts Venue.
For more information about the Muddy Awards, visit: https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/awards.
