Lunn’s Jewellers has been named a finalist in the British Business Awards 2026.
The Northern Ireland luxury retailer has been shortlisted in the Family Business of the Year category, sponsored by Blackgold International.
Other finalists in the category include Warburtons, Albert Bartlett, Taylors Tea, Laing O’Rourke, GSS Development and John Pye Auctions.
The shortlist places Lunn’s among the UK’s most respected family-owned firms and marks another significant moment for a business that has been part of Northern Ireland’s commercial landscape for more than seven decades.
Founded in 1954, Lunn’s is widely regarded as Northern Ireland’s leading jeweller, operating from showrooms in Queen’s Arcade and Victoria Square in Belfast, as well as Shipquay Street in Londonderry.
Suzanne Lunn, Marketing Director at Lunn’s Jewellers, said being named a finalist in the British Business Awards meant “a huge amount” for a business that began with a small store in Queen’s Arcade in 1954,
“Lunn’s has always been deeply personal to our family and reaching this stage is something we are incredibly proud of,” she said.
“It is a real honour to be recognised alongside such distinguished businesses.
“Making the final is a wonderful reflection of the commitment of our whole team.”
She added: “National recognition is both a milestone and a measure of how far Lunn’s has come while staying true to the values on which it was built.”
Alan Jope CBE, Chair of the judging panel, said: “The calibre of companies on the shortlist is extraordinary, and our job as judges is simply to maintain the highest standards and ensure that truly outstanding businesses emerge as the winners. From global innovators like AstraZeneca and Moderna to much-loved brands such as Nando’s, Warburtons and Iceland, this year’s cohort represents companies that are truly shaping Britain’s economic future.”
Still owned by the second and third generations of the Lunn family, the business continues to blend heritage, ambition and long-term thinking.
Day-to-day operations are led by Managing Director John Lunn and Marketing Director Suzanne Lunn, while Chairman Peter Lunn remains closely involved in the company and its culture.
That continuity has helped shape a business known not only for luxury retail, but for stability, discretion and enduring relationships with clients, colleagues and global brand partners.
The recognition also reflects a period of major investment and growth for the company.
In recent years, Lunn’s has delivered a seven-year strategic plan centred on the transformation of Queen’s Arcade and the strengthening of its wider retail estate.
The business has invested more than £12 million across those projects, including the refurbishment of its Belfast and Derry stores and the development of mono-brand boutiques in partnership with some of the world’s most prestigious watchmakers.
That programme has seen Rolex and TAG Heuer open boutiques in Queen’s Arcade, followed by Breitling, Montblanc and OMEGA, while Tudor opened its first Irish boutique there in 2023.
The latest and most high-profile stage came with the opening of a new Rolex Boutique in June 2025, described by the company as the largest in Europe outside London.
Lunn’s has never been solely about commercial success; family stewardship, reinvestment and a people-first culture remain central to the business.
The family works alongside non-family executive and non-executive directors, while continuing to place strong emphasis on colleague wellbeing, clear career development and a workplace culture shaped by shared values.
That approach has contributed to Great Place to Work accreditation in both 2024 and 2025, as well as Best Workplace 2025 recognition in the retail, hospitality and leisure category for small and medium businesses.
At the awards ceremony in Edinburgh on 30th April, there will be special guest appearance and conversation with award-winning actor and humanitarian, George Clooney, plus the return of keynote speaker Sir Bob Geldof and co-hosts Rob Brydon and Elaine C Smith.
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