Fatboy Slim spoke of his pride in his adopted home city as he picked up a trophy at the inaugural Brighton and Hove Business Awards (BAHBAs).

The jubilant DJ, aka Norman Cook, received a special award for raising the city's international profile.

The star, who played to 500,000 people in Brazil earlier this year, said: "I don't usually make speeches. But I want to say it is an honour and a privilege to live in Brighton and Hove - **** the trophies, it is an honour and a privilege to live here."

Mr Cook, accompanied by wife Zoe Ball, mingled among the 350 guests at the gala dinner at Brighton Racecourse on Wednesday night.

The event, which will be repeated next year, stands alone in saluting the entrepreneurial and creative talent in Brighton and Hove rather than Sussex as a whole.

There was plenty of glamour and glitz but it was less formal than other business award ceremonies and the presentations were short.

Mr Cook was the only winner to make a speech as the host, Brighton comic Terry Garoghan, happily hurtled through proceedings.

Trophies also went to Brighton and Hove Albion, the Brighton Institute of Modern Music and North Laine tailor Gresham Blake, who is about to open a shop in New York.

Mr Blake, who wore a black pinstripe suit and white shoes, said: "It's a fantastic event and it's great to win something after all our hard work."

Gay festival Pride, which attracted more than 100,000 visitors to Brighton last month, was named event of the year ahead of Brighton Festival and Party In The Park.

David Harvey, chairman of the Pride in Brighton and Hove Committee, said: "For a business to win one of these business awards is an accolade. For a non-profit organisation run by volunteers to win one is a dream come true."

Other winners were the Brighton Bears, dentist Christopher Gull, 3D animators Littleloud, Alias Seattle Hotel and computer games specialist Babel Media.

Organiser Caraline Brown, of public relations firm Midnight Communications, said the judges were looking for companies which reflected the city's zeitgeist.

She said: "There are very few cities in the UK as energetic, vibrant, innovative and cosmopolitan and we believe our shortlist reflects this.

"Without business, there would be no Brighton and Hove - no art, no culture, no excitement and no entertainment.

"This is what the BAHBAs are all about - recognising and celebrating those people, businesses and organisations which put Brighton and Hove on the economic map.

"Now Brighton and Hove is a city, we thought it was about time we started celebrating the uniqueness and vibrancy of one of the greatest places in the country.

"The BAHBAs are all about recognising the stars of our city - those companies, organisations and individuals that are an inspiration to us all - the best of breed that puts Brighton and Hove on the map of UK plc and helps attract inward investment to the city.

"But it is not all about congratulating ourselves and patting ourselves on the back for the city we are today.

"It is about identifying those companies and individuals who are set to inspire us all to become a city of tomorrow. I can't wait for next year."

Prior to the event, 3,000 nomination forms were circulated to businesses through co-organisers Juice FM, Brighton and Hove Life, Sussex Enterprise and Brighton and Hove City Council.

Nominees were asked to write in explaining why they should win an award.

Their submissions were judged by a panel which included outgoing Brighton and Hove City Council chief executive David Panter, Steve Stark from Juice FM and Verity Smart of Brighton and Hove Life.

Friday September 03, 2004