Gateshead shop and Durham Hens are featured in the Small Biz 100 list that leads up to Small Business Saturday
A trendy Gateshead shop and a poultry business in County Durham are maong 100 small businesses being celebrated as some of the best in the UK.
Gateshead's Block and Bottle and Durham Hens Limited have both been named in the Small Biz 100 list, which showcases one UK business a day in the run up to Small Business Saturday, a national event takes place on December 2 to promote SMEs around the UK.
Block & Bottle is the UK's first dedicated butcher and beer bottle shop. Located near the High Level Bridge, the shop stocks rare breed, free range meat and craft beers from across the North East and the UK.
As well as offering butcher quality meat, the shop sells draught beer that can be drunk on site or taken home in growler bottles. It also hosts butchery classes for those wishign to learn more about how to prepare their food.
Owners Katie Cullen and Steven Warren opened the shop earlier this year, with Ms Cullen running the beer side if the business and Mr Warren sells Block and Bottle's meat selection.
"Being part of the Small Biz 100 will help us change the way people think about, buy, and consume meat and beer," said Ms Cullen.
"We want to share out ideals with a wider community who believe in supporting small independent businesses like ourselves to help us grow and develop by shopping local, which is where Small Biz 100 comes in."
Durham Hens is also being included in the Small Biz 100 list.
The company was founded by Margaret Manchester and sells a variety of hens, feed, and runs for thsoe wishing to keep chickens. It also offers "hen holidays", a propfessional boarding service which takes care of the birds if their owners go on holiday.
Durham Hens has previously been promoted by Dragons Den star Theo Paphitis as part of his 'Small Business Sunday' initiative.
Middlesbrough clothing retailer GRN Sportswear and Darlington's Inclusion Archery have also made the Small Biz 100 list.
Small Business Saturday - which is billed as the antitheses to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which usually benefit larger companies - is now in its fifth year.
In 2016 £717m was spent with small businesses on Small Business Staurday, which was an increase of 15% on the previous year.
Commenting on the organisation's achievements, campaign director Michelle Ovens said: "Small Business Saturday has gone from strength to strength in the five years since it launched in the UK.
"British businesses and customers have taken it to their hearts and now not only make special effort once a year for Small Business Saturday, but appreciate the value small businesses bring to their communities year round.
"Small Business Saturday is open to everyone. Businesses on the high street or online, trading with other businesses or selling direct to consumers. It is open to every individual who can take this moment to support their local businesses, and ti is open to public sector to both support and reflect on the huge value small businesses generate."