Lancashire Award Winners
Congratulations to all Lancashire and Blackpool finalists and winners at England’s Northwest Tourism Awards held at Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Monday 28th September 2009.
Commenting after the ceremeony Mike Wilkinson, LBTB Chief Executive said:
"Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board is delighted that three of our members have won their category in this year’s England’s Northwest Tourism Awards. Much- deserved winners The Ashton B&B, Blackpool Illuminations and Farmaggedon confirm that for quality accommodation to large scale events and unique tourism experiences Lancashire has it all, offering visitors award-winning style, innovation and distinctiveness to compete with anywhere in the UK.
"Lancashire and Blackpool was well represented in each hard-fought category by some of the finest tourism businesses in the county, they all deserve our congratulations for reaching this level and we look forward to seeing them as winners in the future. Special mention also goes to La Locanda Ristorante Italiano, which was highly commended in the Taste award category and to acclaimed chef Nigel Haworth, who was honoured with the award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism."
Official press release and list of all finalists and winners follows :
Lancashire chef honoured at regional tourism ‘Oscars’
Accrington-born chef Nigel Haworth was honoured last night (Monday 28th September) at the sixth annual England’s Northwest Tourism Awards. Co-Director of Northcote and one of the region’s greatest food ambassadors, Nigel was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award at Blackpool’s famous Tower Ballroom.
Nigel was one of four award winners from Lancashire and Blackpool to be named the best in the Northwest at the ceremony.
The Ashton in Lancaster took home the Bed and Breakfast of the Year award, for its impeccable standards and fantastic elegance. Blackpool Illuminations was named the Tourism Event of the Year for its ultra-modern approach to what is a Northwest institution. Tourism Experience of the Year was awarded to Farmaggedon near Ormskirk, a frightening but unique example of farm diversification at its best, and one of the world’s top 25 must-visit hauntings.
La Locanda Ristorante in Gisburn received a judges’ commendation in the Taste of England’s Northwest category.
Organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), the prestigious event aims to drive up the quality of the visitor experience across the region by rewarding excellence in the tourism industry. This year’s event was hosted by BBC North West Tonight presenter Ranvir Singh.
In addition to receiving a prestigious title and trophy, regional winners now have the opportunity to represent the Northwest in the national awards, organised by VisitEngland in April 2010.
Felicity Goodey, Chair of Tourism England’s Northwest said:
“The Northwest Tourism Awards have set a very high benchmark for the industry over the past few years. These winners are some of the best of the best. They are delivering a distinctive product, outstanding quality and value for money, that’s why even in the present economic climate they continue to do so well.
“These awards recognise and reward the leaders in what is a very competitive industry. I am confident we will do very well when some of them represent us in the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence next year.”
Nick Brooks-Sykes, Director of Tourism at the NWDA, added:
“Tourism is an important industry in the Northwest, contributing over £13 billion to our economy every year. The NWDA is committed to helping the industry to improve its competitiveness, and these awards play an important role in encouraging the quality and standards that we need to be an international player. These businesses are setting the standards for others to follow.”
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Notes to editors
Finalists in the England’s Northwest Tourism Awards are winners from each of the sub-regional tourism awards.
Images from the Awards ceremony will be available on Tuesday 29th September.
Full list of entrants and winners for the England’s Northwest Tourism Awards follows:
Outstanding Contribution to Tourism
Nigel Haworth, Northcote, near Blackburn, Lancashire
Large Hotel of the Year
Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester
Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, Cumbria- Highly Commended
Preston Marriott Hotel, Preston, Lancashire
The Lowry Hotel, Manchester – Winner
Malmaison Liverpool, Liverpool
Small Hotel of the Year
Peckforton Castle, Tarporley, Cheshire
Gilpin Lodge Country House Hotel, Windermere, Cumbria – Winner
Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Langho, Nr Blackburn, Lancashire
Bed and Breakfast of the Year
Harrop Fold Farm, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Storrs Gate House, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria
The Ashton, Lancaster, Lancashire – Winner
Brooklands Lodge, Sale, Greater Manchester
The Ambassador Townhouse, Southport, Merseyside
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire
Walby Farm Park, near Carlisle, Cumbria
Blackpool Tower and Circus, Blackpool
Imperial War Museum North, Manchester – Winner
Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool- Highly Commended
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich, Cheshire – Winner
Wordsworth House and Garden, Cockermouth, Cumbria
Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, Helmshore, Lancashire
Museum of the Manchester Regiment, Manchester
Acorn Farm, Liverpool
Self Catering Holiday of the Year
Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Hall Hills, Dalston, near Carlisle, Cumbria – Winner
Clough Bottom Farm Cottages, near Clitheroe, Lancashire
Blue Rainbow Apartments, Manchester
Premier Apartments Liverpool, Liverpool
Holiday Park of the Year
Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park, Keswick, Cumbria – Winner
Sunset Park, Hambleton, near Blackpool
Business Tourism Award
Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester
Warwick Mill Business Village, near Carlisle, Cumbria
Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green, near Blackpool
The Lowry Hotel, Manchester – Highly Commended
Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool, Liverpool – Winner
Taste of England’s Northwest
Walk Mill, Chester
Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop, Kendal, Cumbria – Winner
La Locanda Ristorante Italiano, Gisburn, Lancashire- Highly Commended
The Modern, Manchester
Delifonseca, Liverpool
Tourism Experience of the Year
Roman Tours, Chester – Highly Commended
Silverband Falconry, Penrith, Cumbria
Farmaggedon, near Ormskirk, Lancashire – Winner
Costumed Performers, Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester
Art in the Age of Steam, National Museums Liverpool, Liverpool
Customer Service Award
Janet Bradshaw, Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire
Jennifer Taylor, The Archway Guest House, Windermere, Cumbria
Hannah Lee, The New Holly, near Preston
Mahendran Mayan, Renaissance Hotel, Manchester
Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn Hotel, Liverpool – Winner
Sustainable Tourism Award
Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester
Langdale Leisure Ltd, Ambleside, Cumbria – Highly Commended
Malkin Tower Farm Holiday Cottages, Blacko, Lancashire
Radisson SAS Hotel Manchester Airport, Greater Manchester
Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool, Liverpool – Winner
Tourism for All Award
Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire – Winner
Ullswater Steamers, Glenridding, Cumbria
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
The Trafford Centre, Greater Manchester
Tourism Event
Nantwich Food and Drink Festival, Cheshire
Westmorland County Agricultural Show, Milnthorpe, Cumbria
Blackpool Illuminations, Blackpool – Winner
Manchester Pride, Manchester
Creamfields, Merseyside
Public Space Award
Cockermouth Market Place Regeneration Scheme, Cumbria – Highly Commended
County Square Environmental Enhancement Scheme, Ulverston, Cumbria
Pier Head Public Realm and Canal Link, Liverpool – Winner
Tourist Information Centre of the Year
Congleton TIC, Cheshire
Coniston TIC, Cumbria – Highly Commended
Cleveleys TIC, Lancashire
Wigan TIC, Greater Manchester – Winner
St Helens TIC, Merseyside
Travel Journalist of the Year
Chris Moss, Time Out
Craig Fleming, Blackpool Gazette
David Atkinson, Freelance
Paul Croughton, The Sunday Times
Stephen McClarence, The Observer – Winner
For further information please contact Helen Batte, Tourism Press Officer on 01925 400235 or 07764 239856 or [email protected]
For urgent out of hours press enquiries please call 01925 400259.
For further information and to view previous press releases visit us at www.nwda.co.uk
The Northwest Regional Development Agency works to deliver economic success in England’s Northwest by building the competitiveness of businesses, people and places. The Agency is the strategic lead for tourism in the Northwest and works with the region’s five tourist boards to support and grow our £13 billion visitor economy.