Lancashire Tourism Awards 2013

The Winners!

On Thursday 7 November, Blackburn Cathedral proved the perfect setting for Marketing Lancashire’s 10th annual Lancashire Tourism Awards, where 20 of the county’s finest tourism businesses were awarded for excellence in their field and recognised by an audience of over 400 industry colleagues and sponsors.

Marketing Lancashire would like to thank all the sponsors who supported the awards: Dewlay Cheese Makers, Group Travel Organiser Magazine, Insight With Passion, Intersys Micronics, Lancashire Walks and Wildlife Magazine, Napthens Solicitors, Northern Print Distribution, Pannone, Total Food Service, Workhouse Marketing.

The awards ceremony was hosted by Simon Calder, Senior Travel Editor of The Independent, TV and radio broadcaster, who provided an entertaining and witty introduction to the main presentations, following a Lancashire inspired three-course dinner created by Blackburn-based caterers With A Twist. Award-winning Lancashire cheesemaker Dewlay, provided one of the ingredients for the menu, as well as a three tier celebration cheese-cake to mark the 10th anniversary which, along with special beer from Blackburn brewers Thwaites, was offered to guests on arrival at the drinks reception.

Guests also enjoyed live music entertainment from Blackburn and Darwen Brass Band, and the Lancashire Jazz Youth Orchestra.

Ruth Connor, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire commented “All our finalists are deserving of recognition but our winners today have demonstrated that they are the ‘best of the best’ of Lancashire’s tourism businesses and I congratulate them.

“This wonderful evening would not have been possible without the support of our Host Sponsor, Blackburn With Darwen Council and Headline Sponsor, the University of Central Lancashire as well as a wide range of sponsors and partners, who have made an invaluable contribution to the success of this landmark event.

“Tourism is of vital importance to the economic good health of Lancashire and our finalists and winners are at the forefront of a drive to improve the industry’s current £3.4billion contribution to the visitor economy, which Marketing Lancashire will proudly continue to lead and develop, through creative partnerships and strategic and ambitious marketing.”

This year’s awards ceremony was the biggest to date, with more categories, more applications and more finalists than ever before. A number of new categories were amongst the most popular; the new category of Wedding Venue had 12 incredible finalists, proving that the county has a wealth of options available to happy couples looking for the perfect location for their wedding. Other new categories included: Best for Groups, Retail Experience, Cultural Venue/Organisation, Luxury Experience.

The presentation of the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award was a highlight of the evening, with the award going to all 250 Guilders of the Preston Guild 2012; volunteers who welcomed over 1 million visitors to Preston and ensured the smooth-running and success of this ‘once every twenty years’ event. This award was presented by Andrew Lightfoot, Deputy Chief Executive of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Host Sponsor.   

Winners this year received a newly designed trophy; a handcrafted, distinctive glass wave design, featuring the Lancashire rose created by Stonegate Glass Studio.

The Winners of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2013

A full list of all finalists with the winner in each category highlighted follows:

B&B/Guest Accommodation Award *

Broadgate Farm B&B, Preston
The Cartford Inn, Little Eccleston – WINNER
The Castle Inn, Hornby
Mode, Lytham St Annes
Park House B&B, Gisburn

Small Hotel Award *

Briar Dene Hotel, Blackpool
Farington Lodge Hotel, Leyland
The Spread Eagle, Sawley
The Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn – WINNER

Large Hotel Award *

Elgin Hotel, Blackpool
Holiday Inn Express Burnley – WINNER
Holiday Inn Preston
Preston Marriott Hotel

Holiday Park Award *

Bay View Holiday Park, Bolton le Sands – WINNER
Claylands Park, Garstang
Hackings Caravan Park, Clitheroe
Marton Mere Holiday Village, Blackpool
Windy Harbour Holiday Park, Nr Blackpool

Self Catering Award *

Canal Boat Cruises, Hoghton – WINNER
Marton Mere Holiday Village, Blackpool
Parrock Lumb Cottages, Bacup
Pattys Farm Barn, Lancaster
Queens Mansions, Blackpool

Green Tourism Award *

Best Western Mytton Fold Hotel & Golf Complex, Blackburn
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Bleasdale Cottages – WINNER
Cuffe & Taylor Event Management Ltd, Lytham St Annes
Hackings Caravan Park, Clitheroe
Sea Life Blackpool
The Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough

Conference/Meeting Venue Award *

Blackpool Zoo
Brockholes, Preston – WINNER
Cotton Court Business Centre, Preston

Wedding Venue Award – new category 2013

Bashall Barn, Clitheroe
Best Western Mytton Fold Hotel & Golf Complex, Blackburn
Browsholme Tithe Barn, Clitheroe
Canal Boat Cruises, Hoghton
Eaves Hall, Clitheroe – WINNER
Farington Lodge Hotel, Leyland
Mitton Hall, Nr Clitheroe
Ribby Hall Village Business and Banqueting, Wrea Green
Samlesbury Hall, Samlesbury
Stanley House Hotel & Spa, Blackburn
West Tower, Ormskirk
Wyrebank Banqueting Suite, Preston

Luxury Experience Award – new category 2013

Breck Apartments, Poulton le Fylde
Queens Mansions, Blackpool
The SPA Hotel at Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green – WINNER
The Woodland Spa, Burnley

Taste Lancashire Award *

The Castle Inn, Hornby
Heathcotes Brasserie, Preston
La Locanda Ristorante Italiano, Gisburn
The Oyster and Otter, Blackburn
The Parkers Arms, Clitheroe – WINNER
Quite Simply French, Lancaster
The Red Cat, Chorley
Samlesbury Hall, Samlesbury
The Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn
Toast Cafe Bar & Grill, Blackpool

Tourism Pub Award *

The Assheton Arms, Clitheroe – WINNER
The Cartford Inn, Little Eccleston
The Parkers Arms, Clitheroe
The Sparrowhawk, Burnley

Cultural Venue/Organisation Award – new category 2013

Horse & Bamboo Theatre, The Boo,  Waterfoot
Chorley Little Theatre
The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster – WINNER
Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool
Pendle Sculpture Trail
The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery, Rossendale

Best for Groups Award – new category 2013

Blackpool Pleasure Beach – WINNER
Brockholes, Preston
Canal Boat Cruises, Hoghton
Lancaster Canal Boats
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough

Small Visitor Attraction Award *

Canal Boat Cruises, Hoghton
Carnforth Station Heritage Centre
Go Ape, Rivington
The Grand, Clitheroe
Lancaster Canal Boats – WINNER
Pendle Sculpture Trail
Queen Street Mill Textile Museum, Burnley
Samlesbury Hall, Samlesbury

Large Visitor Attraction Award *

Barton Grange Garden Centre, Preston
Blackpool Zoo – WINNER
Brockholes, Preston
Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
Williamson Park, Lancaster
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough

Retail Experience Award – new category 2013

Barton Grange Garden Centre, Preston
Cedar Farm, Mawdesley – WINNER
The Cheese Shop at Dewlay, Garstang
J Atkinson & Co, Lancaster
Nick Shop at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Visitor Event Award *

Armed Forces Week, Blackpool
Clitheroe Food Festival
Fleetwood Festival of Transport
Lancashire Witches 400 project
Lancaster Music Festival – WINNER
Lytham Wartime Weekend
Pendle Witches Festival
Preston Guild 2012 including A Vintage Guild
Ride with Brad

Customer Service Award

Blackburn Visitor Centre
Duk Pond & Dukbodega, Preston
Lancaster & Morecambe Visitor Information Team
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool – WINNER
Toast Cafe Bar & Grill, Blackpool

Tourism Customer Services Team for Preston City Council

Visit Garstang Tourist Information Centre
Marketing Initiative Award
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Blackpool Resort Pass – WINNER
Crafty Vintage Weekenders at Brockholes
#Lancashire Hour
Pennine Lancashire Museums Partnership
Ride with Brad
St Annes Beach Huts

Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award

Amanda Dowson, Ribble Valley
Emma Bartlet, Burnley
Guilders of Preston Guild 2012 – WINNER
Lynn Harter, Wyre
Peter Taylor & Daniel Cuffe, Lytham St Annes

* Winners of these categories will progress to the VisitEngland Excellence Awards 2014, representing Lancashire in the national tourism awards.

Media enquiries: Anna Izza, Communications Manager, Marketing Lancashire
01772 426 459 or [email protected]

Notes to Editors

1. Marketing Lancashire is the new name for Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board (from 1st April 2012)
Our activities in marketing and communications, commercial membership, `Welcome to Excellence` training and place marketing are all designed to grow the visitor economy and develop the destination as a great place to visit, live and work.

In 2012 Lancashire attracted 62 million visitors who contributed around £3.4 billion to the local economy and helped support 54,804 jobs. 

Marketing Lancashire, Farington House, Lancashire Enterprise Business Park,
Centurion Way, Leyland PR26 6TW

www.marketinglancashire.com
www.visitlancashire.com

Marketing Lancashire Ltd, is a company under the control of Lancashire County Council within the meaning of Part V of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.  Marketing Lancashire Ltd. Registered Office: Christ Church Precinct, County Hall, Fishergate Hill, Preston, PR1 8XJ  Registered in England and Wales under No.05039554