The County’s Tourism Industry ‘Best in Class’ Revealed

The winners of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2017 were announced at a glittering event held last evening in the magnificent Blackpool Tower Ballroom; with Headline Sponsor University of Central Lancashire and Host Sponsor VisitBlackpool leading the way, in support of the only county-wide celebration of Lancashire tourism.

The annual awards, organised by Marketing Lancashire, was attended by over 500 guests who enjoyed a superb Lancashire-inspired dinner before Chair of the Board of Marketing Lancashire, Tony Attard OBE DL introduced this year’s guest presenter, the Burnley-born journalist and presenter of Drive on BBC Radio 5 Live, Tony Livesey.

Ruth Connor, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire in her opening speech said

“A thriving visitor economy makes such a difference to a place and the latest annual visitor figures to Lancashire are now at a record-breaking 67 million. With these visitors spending over £4.1billion and with almost 60 thousand people now employed in tourism, we have a great deal to celebrate and look forward to together.

“This is a fantastic industry to work in with so many opportunities and we all need to encourage more young people to choose careers in tourism. We have so many talented individuals and teams who run businesses but also the level of investment that is going into continuing to raise our game, is giving Lancashire real stand out as a destination and as a place to work.

“I believe we have the people, the products and above all else, the right attitude to get this county noticed and appreciated. We have a lot to achieve to get to our goal of 70million annual visitors by 2020 but with collaboration, partnership working, with ambition and confidence, and with our true Lancashire spirit we will definitely get there.”

Lancashire’s Tourism Superstar Award 2017 was the only award voted for by the public and was awarded to creator of Crafty Vintage, Laura Johnson.  She was presented with the award by Lancashire County Councillor Michael Green, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Environment and Planning,

The event was supported by: University of Central Lancashire – Headline Sponsor, VisitBlackpool, Blackpool and the Fylde College, Creative-Counsil, DFC, Jones Harris Chartered Accountants, Heart FM, Huddle Media, Lancashire Business View, Lancashire Life, Lancashire Post, Napthens, Nelson Town Council, Northcote at the Rovers, Northern Print Distribution, Peter Scott Printers, Quality in Tourism and Total Foodservice

The evening’s entertainment was provided by the Danny Finn Trio with the big band sounds of The Soul Convicts, taking the celebrations into the early hours.

Lancashire Tourism Awards Finalists and Winners 2017 

Small Visitor Attraction Award*
Carnforth Station Heritage Centre
HAPPA, Shores Hey Farm, Burnley – WINNER
Inside Spa, Nelson
Mrs Dowsons Farm, Blackburn
Thornton Hall Country Park
The Woodland Spa, Burnley

Large Visitor Attraction Award*
Blackpool Zoo
Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston
East Lancashire Railway
Farmer Ted’s Adventure Park, Ormskirk
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
Viva Blackpool – WINNER

Dog Friendly Award*
The Aspinall Arms, Mitton
Park Leisure Ribble Valley
Pendle Inn, Barley 
The Spread Eagle Inn, Sawley – WINNER

Retail Experience Award
Freeport Fleetwood
Leyland Market
Whalley Warm & Dry – WINNER

Large Hotel Award*
Barton Grange Hotel, Preston 
Best Western Plus Samlesbury Hotel, Preston
The Elgin Hotel, Blackpool
Lancaster House
The Midland, Morecambe – WINNER
The Spa Hotel, Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green

Business Tourism Provider Award*
Barton Grange Hotel, Preston 
Best Western Plus Samlesbury Hotel, Preston
Lancaster House
Winter Gardens Blackpool – WINNER

Small Tourism Event Award 
Burnley Canal Festival
Canal Fest at Botany Bay, Chorley 
Chorley Flower Show
Cloudspotting, Slaidburn – WINNER
Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival, Colne
Lytham Hall Open Air Theatre

Large Tourism Event Award
The Hobbit, The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster
Lancashire Encounter, Preston
LightPool Festival, Blackpool – WINNER
Light Up Lancaster
Lytham 1940s Wartime Weekend
The National Festival of Making, Blackburn
Vintage by the Sea, Morecambe

Lancashire Café/Tearoom Award
Alices Tearoom, Lytham St Annes
Countrystyle Kitchen, Lancaster
The Dearden Tea Rooms, Haslingden
The Mill, St Catherine’s Park, Preston
Potters Barn, Ribchester – WINNER
The Village Tearoom at Wheelton

Self-Catering Holiday Award*
Box Tree Farm Glamping, Kirkby Lonsdale
Breck Apartments, Poulton-le-Fylde
Moss Wood Caravan Park, Cockerham
Newton Hall Holiday Park, Blackpool – WINNER
Pine Lake by Diamond Resorts, Carnforth
Queens Mansions, Blackpool
Sunset Park Holiday Village, Poulton-le-Fylde

Visitor Experience Award
Blackpool Ghost Walks
Dining with Distinction at East Lancashire Railway
Farmaggedon, Ormskirk
Go Ape Rivington
Inch Perfect Trials, Whitewell – WINNER
The Woodland Spa, Burnley 

New Business Award
Ascent Trampoline Park, Blackpool – WINNER
Clip ‘n Climb Preston
Crafty Events, Leyland
Holmes Mill, Clitheroe 
Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, Aughton
The Oxfordshire Hotel, Blackpool
The Rookery Roughlee

Wedding Venue Award 
Avenham and Miller Parks, Preston 
Beeston Manor, Hoghton 
Browsholme Hall and Tithe Barn, Clitheroe – WINNER
Farington Lodge Hotel, Leyland
The Midland, Morecambe
Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green
The Spread Eagle Inn, Sawley  

Taste Lancashire Award*
The Bay Horse Inn, Lancaster
Bertram’s Restaurant, Burnley – WINNER
Hipping Hall, Kirkby Lonsdale 
The Midland, Morecambe 
Olive Tree Brasserie, Preston
Twelve Restaurant & Lounge Bar, Thornton-Cleveleys
The Villa Wrea Green

Lancashire Pub/Inn Award*
The Bay Horse Inn, Lancaster
The Cartford Inn, Little Eccleston – WINNER
The Clog and Billycock, Pleasington
Eagle and Child, Ramsbottom 
Freemasons at Wiswell
The Millstone at Mellor
The Spread Eagle Inn, Sawley 

Lancashire Producers & Makers Award
Brindle Distillery, Chorley 
Choc Amor, Mawdesley
Dewlay Cheesemakers, Garstang – WINNER

Sustainable Tourism Award*
Browsholme Hall, Clitheroe – WINNER
Lancaster House
Moss Wood Caravan Park, Cockerham

Inclusive Tourism Award*
Browsholme Hall, Clitheroe – WINNER
The Dearden Tea Rooms, Haslingden 
The Mill, St Catherine’s Park, Preston 
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool 

Culture & Heritage Award
Clitheroe Concerts Society
In-Situ, Brierfield
Lancashire Theatre Workshop/Ribcaged Productions, Clitheroe
Lytham St Annes Spitfire Ground Display Team
Winter Gardens Blackpool – WINNER

Guest Accommodation Award* 
Crow Wood, Burnley – WINNER

The Red Pump Inn, Clitheroe 

Small Hotel Award*
Farington Lodge Hotel, Leyland
Kings Hotel, Blackpool
The Villa Wrea Green – WINNER

*winners of these categories will have the opportunity to represent Lancashire in the

 2018 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence

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