Shortlist announced for record breaking Tourism Awards

Tourism business across the North East are keeping their diaries free for the most important event of the year as the shortlist for the North East England Tourism Awards has been announced.

Playing a major role in showcasing the range of high quality tourism businesses and experiences on offer to visitors across the North East, the awards have continued to grow with a record breaking 120 businesses submitting entries for this year’s awards.

Organised and delivered by NewcastleGateshead Initiative in partnership with the Northern Tourism Alliance since 2012, entries have increased by over 70% in the last four years, making the 2015 awards the biggest to date.

Sarah Stewart, Chief Executive at destination management and marketing organisation NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said “It’s fantastic to see so many entries this year. The quantity and quality of the applications not only demonstrates the variety of tourism businesses and attractions across the North East, offering visitors an unforgettable experience, it’s also a testament to our thriving visitor economy.

“Tourism businesses employ more than 55,000 people across the North East with an additional 730 jobs created over the last 12 months.

58 applications made this year’s shortlist from a wide range of tourism businesses across Country Durham, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.

Businesses in Northumberland are well represented, shortlisted in 11 of the 15 categories.

Charlie Pears-Wallace, Sales and Marketing Manager at Northumberland Cheese Company, which has been shortlisted for Taste of England Award, said: “It’s a pleasure to be shortlisted for the North East England Tourism Awards. Winning an award would be a wonderful accolade for us to hold, as we are immensely proud of our cheeses, and the success which they hold. This award is also testament to the other strings to our bow; like the workshops, cheese making days, and our Cheese Loft Café and Shop - which we would love people to recognise as readily as our cheese brand.”

 

The full shortlist is detailed below, with Northumberland businesses in italics: 

 

The 2015 Shortlist

Access for All

• Calvert Trust, Kielder
• Sage Gateshead & GOTH
• Newcastle United Football Club/Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events
• The Hog’s Head Inn

Bed & Breakfast / Guest Accommodation of the Year

• Martineau Guest House
• St Cuthbert’s House
• The Old Manse
• The Old Post Office, Lanchester

Business Tourism Award

• Event Durham, Durham University
• Seaham Hall
• Newcastle United Football Club/Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events

Holiday Park / Holiday Village of the Year

• Doe Park Caravan Site
• Leaplish Waterside Park – Northumbrian Water
• Springhouse Country Park

Large Hotel of the Year

• Jurys Inn Newcastle
• Village Urban Resort Newcastle
• Rockliffe Hall
• Hotel Indigo Newcastle

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

• Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books
• Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
• Sage Gateshead
• National Glass Centre

Self-Catering Holiday Provider of the Year

• Springhill Farm Holiday Accommodation
• Hesleyside Huts
• Blacksmith’s Cottage
• Calvert Trust, Kielder

Small Hotel of the Year

• Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa
• Seaham Hall
• The Morritt Country House Hotel & Spa
• Newton Hall

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year

• Oriental Museum
• Auckland Castle
• WWT Washington Wetland Centre
• Kielder Observatory

Sustainable Tourism Award

• St Cuthbert’s House
• Durham University
• Sage Gateshead
• Slate & Nature

Taste of England Award

• Northumberland Cheese Company
• Zeera Indian Cuisine
• The Orangery Restaurant at Rockliffe Hall
• Martineau Guest House

Tourism Experience of the Year

• Karting North East
• The Cycle HUB
• Magna Carta and the Changing Face of Revolt, Durham University
• Hall Hill Farm

Tourism Pub of the Year

• Angel of Corbridge
• The Bridge Tavern
• The Bamburgh Castle Inn
• The Staith House

Visitor Information provider of the Year

• Durham Pointers
• Morpeth Tourist Information & Craft Centre
• Berwick upon Tweed Tourist Information Centre
• North Shields Tourist Information Centre

Tourism Event of the Year  

• Magna Carta and the Changing Face of Revolt, Durham University
• Northumberland County Show
• Funfair, Sage Gateshead
• Festival of Thrift

 

The results will be announced at the glittering celebration on 24 November at Newcastle Civic Centre’s Banqueting Hall, hosted by BBC Radio Newcastle breakfast show presenter, Alfie Joey. Tickets to attend the awards are priced at £50 and are available now at www.NorthEastTourismAwards.com.