Landslide victory for Northumberland in 2015 North East England Tourism Awards
It was a fantastic night for Northumberland businesses at the 2015 North East England Tourism Awards last night.
In her welcome speech at the event, Chief Executive of NewcastleGateshead Initiative Sarah Stewart said this year’s awards were “the biggest yet” which saw a record-breaking 120 businesses submitting entries into the awards. From there, 58 businesses were shortlisted across 15 awards categories showcasing the wide variety of quality tourism businesses throughout the North East region.
Northumberland businesses were shortlisted in eleven categories. From that, they scooped seven Gold awards, along with a further five Silver, five Bronze and four Highly Commended awards.
It was a particularly successful night for St Cuthbert’s House B&B, who won Gold for both ‘Bed & Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year’ and ‘Sustainable Tourism’. Other Gold award winners were Bamburgh Castle Inn, Leaplish Waterside Park, Morpeth Tourist Information and Craft Centre, Blacksmith’s Cottage, and Kielder Observatory.
All winners now have the opportunity to compete nationally at VisitEngland’s Awards for Excellence in 2016. In last year’s awards, Northumberland business Matfen Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa won Gold in Large Hotel of the Year and went on to win Gold nationally, meaning they were officially recognised as the best in the country.
Jude Leitch, Director of Northumberland Tourism, is thrilled with the result: “This is a fantastic achievement for Northumberland businesses. Our tourism offering is growing year on year, so it is great to see all efforts rewarded with such regional recognition.
With this year seeing the largest volume of applicants into the awards, every category is highly contested. However, special recognition has to be made to St Cuthbert’s House, winning two Gold awards. As past winners of VisitEngland’s Best B&B of the Year, their consistently excellent offering to guests really must be admired. Along with all of the Gold award winners, we wish them every success in the 2016 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.”
The full list of Northumbrian winners:
Tourism Pub of the Year
Bamburgh Castle Inn, Seahouses - Gold
The Angel of Corbridge - Silver
Holiday Park/Village of the Year
Leaplish Waterside Park, Kielder - Gold
Springhouse Country Park, Slaley – Bronze
Visitor Information Provider of the Year
Morpeth Tourist Information and Craft Centre - Gold
Berwick-upon-Tweed Tourist Information Centre - Bronze
Access for All Tourism
The Hog’s Head Inn, Alnwick – Silver
Calvert Trust Kielder – Highly Commended
Tourism Event of the Year
Northumberland County Show – Highly Commended
Taste of England
Northumberland Cheese Company – Silver
Self-Catering Holiday Provider of the Year
Blacksmith’s Cottage, Alnham – Gold
Hesleyside Huts - Silver
Springhill Farm Holiday Accommodation, Seahouses - Bronze
Calvert Trust Kielder – Highly Commended
Small Hotel of the Year
Newton Hall – Silver
Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa – Bronze
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Kielder Observatory – Gold
Bed & Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year
St Cuthbert’s House, Seahouses – Gold
The Old Manse, Chatton – Bronze
Sustainable Tourism
St Cuthbert’s House, Seahouses – Gold
Slate & Nature, West Woodburn – Highly Commended
Image: Morpeth Tourist Information and Craft Centre, Gail Johnson
