Best-of Criteria
Best-of places are paid placements. A company can only buy one if it meets every criterion on this page, and the number of places in each town is capped. We publish the rules so buyers can see exactly what a "Best-of" label does and does not mean.
The five criteria
A company must meet all five, checked by us before the placement goes live:
| Criterion | What we check |
|---|---|
| Trading for over 2 years | Companies House incorporation date, or other evidence for sole traders and partnerships, such as the date on the company's earliest invoices or accounts |
| At least 10 reputable reviews, averaging 4.5 stars or more | The company's reviews on the day we check |
| A quality website | Secure (https), works on a phone, names the business, shows a real address and phone number, and describes the services offered |
| A Google Business Profile | A live profile GBP for the business |
| Active social media | At least one social media profile with a post in the last 6 to 12 months |
A business must meet all five before a "Best-of" placement goes live.
Meeting these criteria shows a company has an established, visible business with a good record of customer reviews. It does not mean we have inspected the company's work, and we never describe "Best-of" companies as verified or approved.
How many places does each town have?
Places are capped by the town or city's population, using the ONS 2021 Census figure for its built-up area:
| Built-up area population | Best-of places |
|---|---|
| Small townUnder 50,000 | 1 |
| Large town or city50,000 to 250,000 | 3 |
| Major cityOver 250,000 | 10 |
Population figures from the ONS 2021 Census, built-up areas. Places are strictly limited.
When all places in a town are taken, companies that qualify can join a waiting list. Places are offered in the order businesses applied.
What does a Best-of place include?
- A place in the "Best of [Your Town Name]" box at the top of the town page
- A press release announcing the company's place
- A "Best of [Town]" badge for the company's own website
The main list of companies below the "Best-of" box is not affected. It is still sorted by our criteria of Google star rating, number of real reviews, and a "Best-of" company still appears in the normal listing position too.
Price and term
A "Best-of [Town]" sponsored placement costs £249 and runs for the full 12 months from the day it goes live. Before renewal, we check the business against the criteria again. A company that no longer meets them cannot renew.
We will remove a place early if the business stops trading or we find the information provided was false. There are no refunds given.
We will remove a place early if the business stops trading or we find the information provided was false. There are no refunds given.
Apply for a Best-of place
Claim your free listing first, then tell us which town you want featuring in. We check the criteria and reply within 5 working days. You only pay once we confirm you qualify.
