A sold-out crowd of 230 attended the 2021 Cessnock Customer Service Awards at Cessnock Leagues Club on Friday night, an event the chamber had touted as "Cessnock's biggest Christmas party".

Mackenzie Wilson from Simply Bliss Bakehouse was named the overall winner, after taking out the hospitality and tourism category and the restaurants, cafes and takeaway sub-category.

Ms Wilson said she was "shocked" and "grateful" to receive the award.

"I couldn't believe how many people were nominated. So many people deserve it, and I was the lucky one," she said.

Ms Wilson has been working at the Weston bakery for about four years, and has a simple philosophy for good customer service: "It's nice to treat people the way you'd want to be treated".

Other hospitality and tourism sub-category winners included Jim Smith of Gartelmann Wines (cellar door), Leisa Craig of Cessnock Leagues Club (pubs and clubs) and Nancy Murray of Hunter Valley Visitor Information Centre (tourism and accommodation).

Alison Perks of Amplifon took out the professional category after winning the health and medical sub-category, with Stephanie Clark of Commonwealth Bank (finance), Toni Ralston of Oliver Campbell Heslop Solicitors (legal), Rachel Bailey of Belle Property (real estate and conveyancing) and Steve Lane of Australia Post (professional - other) the other sub-category winners.

The trade winner was Amanda Orr of Sage Blossoming, who took out the creative trade sub-category, with the beauty trade award going to Naomi Davey of NVY Studio, and Steven Welsh of Lifeguard Cessnock winning the industrial trade award.

Brett Bichard of Woolworths Cessnock won the overall retail category, with Sarah Pascoe of Cessnock Plaza News & Gifts winning the retail specialist award, and Tynan Hillian of Lowes Cessnock taking home the retail clothing trophy.

Emilly Shaw from St Patrick's Primary School, Cessnock won the community, education and wellbeing section after taking out the education and training sub-category, with Donna Howson of Cessnock City Council (community services) and Davina Lawless of Yoga at the Barre (fitness services) the other sub-category winners.

Clint Ekert of Balloon Worx won the Chamber Choice award, which was selected from monthly winners from nominations that were submitted throughout the year.

Mr Ekert said he was "pretty chuffed" to win the award, after a challenging year in business.

"At the start of lockdown we didn't know if we would have a business much longer with more money being refunded than coming in," he said.

"Skip forward a couple of weeks to the busiest period of trade we have ever seen. Hard work, long hours, a fantastic local community and a bloody awesome team has meant we are still here going strength to strength.

"Hearing some of the comments shows that we have some awesome people in Cessnock willing to go above and beyond to help. Not to help get a sale, but to genuinely help."

Cessnock Business Chamber president Allan Davies said he was impressed by the quantity and quality of the nominations, and the passionate responses provided by the nominees.

"In the past two years we've had bushfires, floods and global pandemics thrown at us, and I'm continually impressed by the tenacity and community spirit that is demonstrated by everyone in our big little town and I think we all need to be proud of that," he said.

"I believe these awards demonstrate that community spirit and passion and it's the chamber's privilege to be able to bring this event to you."

Mr Davies said the chamber is looking forward to a big year in 2022, kicking off with its rescheduled scavenger car rally on January 30.

Business networking events will resume in February, with a trivia night on February 25, and the Cessnock Stomp Festival to return on October 30. A date for the 2022 customer service awards will be confirmed early next year.