Lancashire Highest Quality
As we countdown to the culinary delights of the festive season, Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board (LBTB) is reflecting on a year-round celebration of Lancashire produce and quality eating establishments, as well as a number of ‘foodie’ landmarks and several awards and nominations that have raised the county’s distinctive food and drink offer on a national scale.
The Taste Lancashire accreditation scheme started in 2006 and in 2009 LBTB saw the greatest increase in Highest Quality Assured businesses since the scheme began, with 44% of all businesses in the scheme now ‘highest quality’, having attained a score of +80% on inspection.
All three Lancashire Ribble Valley Inns: The Three Fishes at Mitton, the Highwayman at Nether Burrow and The Clog and Billycock at Pleasington, have all achieved Highest Quality Assured; another success for Nigel Haworth and his team, in a year when he triumphed on TV in the BBC’s Great British Menu and received the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award at the England’s Northwest Tourism Awards. The Buck Inn near Clitheroe, Ye Horns Inn at Goosnargh, Samlesbury Hall Restaurant and the Cartland Restaurant at the Bedford Hotel in Lytham, have also progressed from ‘quality assured’ to ‘highest quality assured’.
Mike Wilkinson, LBTB Chief Executive, commenting on the news said “Lancashire is now recognised as a destination for food connoisseurs and those who care about the quality and sustainability of food production and presentation.
“In what has been a difficult year, consumers have been more discerning and have welcomed the Taste Lancashire marque and its sign-posting towards quality establishments. Through a number of initiatives LBTB has also highlighted the rising and varied number of restaurants in the scheme; introducing a new Taste Lancashire International strand in October.
“Promotions outside the county have successfully introduced thousands of potential new customers to the county’s abundance of award-winning and celebrated places to eat, in a year that has seen several LBTB Members take their deserved place on many a winner’s platform.”
The Taste Lancashire accreditation scheme is managed by LBTB with inspections and gradings awarded by QIT (Quality in Tourism), providers of the national quality assessment scheme for VisitEngland as well as the national tourist boards of Scotland and Wales; ensuring a harmony of standards across a range of tourism businesses.
Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board was pioneer of the Taste Marque which has now been adopted by other regional tourist boards. For more information on the Taste Lancashire or Taste Lancashire International schemes please contact Barbara Howorth, Taste Lancashire Executive,
Tel: 01257 224967 [email protected]
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Notes to Editors
Gisburn – La Locanda Ristorante Italiano, (Taste Lancashire Highest Quality Assured and Taste Lancashire Tourism Award Winner 2009/10) was one of only 3 restaurants to win a Platinum Award at the PAPA, Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food Industry Awards 2009, held at the Lancaster Hotel, London, in November 2009.
Blackpool – Jali Fine Dining Restaurant,(Taste Lancashire Quality Assured) Recently received a prestigious AA Rosette; the first Indian restaurant in the area to receive this accolade.
Media enquiries: Anna Izza, Communications Executive, Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board on 01257 226614 or [email protected].