A historic department store which is been part of the Brixton community for 146 years has been nominated in a national competition to find the UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026.

Morleys Brixton, part of the London based independent department store chain Morley Department Stores Limited, was established in Brixton in 1880 as Morley & Lanceley, a general drapery business. The store was renovated in 2022, and its four floors offer a mix of men’s and women’s fashion, beauty, home and furniture.

People can nominate their favourite local business in the competition, free, by giving the name of the local business they think deserves to win and a reason. The UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026 which receives the most nominations in the competition will win a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card, such as the Gift Brixton gift card, with one person who nominated the winner receiving a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card.

Kinga Halaszi, general manager of Morleys, said: “Morleys is an independent department store which has been at the heart of Brixton since 1880, serving our local customers, supporting local makers, hosting multiple events and staying relevant to our community. Four years ago, we fully refurbished the store to give an updated, modern and attractive place for our customers to shop, somewhere they can feel proud of.

“It’s wonderful that Morleys has been nominated as the UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026. Our customers and our local community are at the centre of everything we do. We’d like to think that the nominations reflect the relationships we’ve built with local people over the years, and the history and relevance Morleys has brought to Brixton for the past 146 years.”
Over 70 Brixton businesses including Morleys are part of Gift Brixton, an initiative from Brixton BID to showcase Brixton’s unique range of businesses. The card is sponsored by Brixton Brewery, Morleys Department Store and Brixton Village. The card is available in physical or digital versions.

Kinga adds: “We love supporting new initiatives in Brixton, including becoming a sponsor of Gift Brixton. Gift Brixton keeps spending in the local area and supports independent businesses like ours. In the digital, cashless era it’s important to make it easy for people to choose Gift Brixton as the local means for gifting and a universal Brixton currency.”

Other Brixton business nominated in the national UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026 competition to date include Diverse Gifts, San Marino and The Joint.

Gianluca Rizzo, managing director of the Brixton BID said: “It’s fantastic to see Morleys and other Brixton businesses recognised in this national competition. Morleys has been part of Brixton life since 1880, and this nomination celebrates its longstanding connection with local people.

“Through Gift Brixton, we’re encouraging people to discover and support the businesses that make this area special, while keeping spending in the local economy. I’d encourage everyone to nominate their favourite Brixton business and tell its story. The overall winning business will receive a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card, with a further £1,000 card awarded to one person who nominated it.”
Gift Brixton is part of the multi-award winning Town & City Gift Cards concept from fintech Miconex. Over 27,000 local businesses are part of Miconex’s local gift card programs around the world with over £69m of cards sold to date.

Colin Munro, CEO of Miconex, said: “As we approach the key Christmas trading period, the most important time of the year for UK retailers, restaurants, pubs and other traders, the UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026 is a timely reminder to actively support your local businesses. In our 2026 research, 73% of people said it has become more important to support local over the past 12 months. Nominating your UK’s Favourite Local Business or choosing a local Town & City Gift Card like Gift Brixton for your gifts, rewards and incentives this festive season are easy ways to support local businesses. Congratulations to Morleys for their nomination.”

Nominate your Favourite Local Business for free at: www.lovelocalwin.co.uk by the 30th November 2026.