James Bloom, CEO of Regentsmead, said: “We were delighted to win the Best Development Lender of the year at the Bridging & Commercial awards. We are very pleased that our broker partners have recognised the high levels of service we strive to provide.

“We will continue to look at ways of improving our product and service to hopefully ensure we are worthy of the award in 2011!”

Although Bridging & Commercial has been handing out awards for the past three years, 2010 has marked the first time the industry publication has hosted an awards ceremony (held last week at the five-star Grange City Hotel) and this year a number of new awards were presented, including Best Scottish Bridging Provider, Best Bridging Legal Partner and Best Development Lender.

A triumphant Regentsmead picked up the award last week, taking to the stage before James Bloom sheepishly pulled out some notes from his pocket, admitting: “I might have prepared a speech...”

Regentsmead were nominated for the award by a large number of brokers and Bridging & Commercial readers, along with fellow development lenders Commercial Acceptances and United Trust Bank.

However, the expert judging panel, made up of NACFB chairman Adam Tyler, chairman of the ASTL Adrian Bloomfield, compliance expert Ray Cohen and Bridging & Commercial publisher Mo Mulki, decided that Regentsmead deserved to take home the trophy.

Bridging & Commercial’s editor, Louise Fernley, commented on the Regentsmead win, saying: “Our 2010 awards aimed to celebrate the lenders who have not only survived, but thrived over the last year. One of our new awards, for Best Development Lender, went to Regentsmead after a number of glowing reports from brokers, property developers and other professionals that had worked with them.

“The panel agreed that a firm with an appetite to lend and high-quality service levels is what is most needed in the market right now. On behalf of all of us at Bridging & Commercial we’d like to say congratulations to all of the Regentsmead team – and fingers crossed for 2011!”