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
Bed & Breakfast / Guest Accommodation of the Year
Business Tourism Award
Holiday Park / Holiday Village of the Year
Large Hotel of the Year
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Self-Catering Holiday Provider of the Year
Small Hotel of the Year
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Sustainable Tourism Award
Taste of England Award
Tourism Experience of the Year
Tourism Pub of the Year
Visitor Information provider of the Year
Tourism Event of the Year
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.
The Cheese Farm is a hub of dairy activity! Dairy tours are available during the week and, guided by one of our senior cheesemakers, you will have a fascinating view into our world at Northumberland Cheese. This also includes a cheese tasting experience, and finishes with lunch in our cafe. These are charged at £25.00 per adult, and £20 per child aged 10-15. Get an intimate insight into the craft of cheese at our cheese-making days, at which you will produce your very own truckle of cheese! From 9-3pm, get to grips with the cheese-making process, shadow our cheesemakers, and then try your hand at your own cheese. Price is £80 per adult, and £150 for two adults, and this will include lunch at the cafe. The Cheese Loft Cafe is where British classic comfort food and beautiful cheese come together, and everything is homemade onsite. A shop is attached to our cafe, where you can buy all of our cheeses, and their accompaniments. Cyclists are extremely welcome in the cafe, especially as we are ideally located for participants of the Reivers route. We have bike racks, and from Easter time, cyclists can have coffee and a tray-bake or scone for £3.00.
Awarded 'England's Best B&B' by VisitEngland in 2017 & 2014 - and also Bronze & Silver medals at their national Awards in 2015 & 2016 too. Your hosts Jeff & Jill offer you beautiful Guest Accommodation in this historic former chapel building, on the spectacular Northumberland coast. Beautiful, elegant restoration, offering six very high-quality ensuite bedrooms in stunning, peaceful surroundings.
Kielder Observatory is an astronomical attraction at Kielder Water & Forest Park run by the Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society. Please visit www.kielderobservatory.org for all event bookings.