Lancashire Tourism Awards 2014 Winners

On Thursday 6 November, The Blackpool Tower Ballroom proved the magnificent setting for Marketing Lancashire’s annual Lancashire Tourism Awards, where over 600 colleagues from the tourism industry also helped mark the 120th Anniversary of The Blackpool Tower.  The Lancashire Tourism Awards 2014 is Marketing Lancashire’s biggest event to date and was sold out weeks before the actual event, with a waiting list for the hottest ticket in town.

Twenty of the county’s finest tourism businesses and a Tourism Superstar received awards for excellence in their field, with most of the Lancashire winners now having the opportunity to go on to represent Lancashire in the national Visit England Awards for Excellence 2015.

The Lancashire Tourism Awards 2014 Host Sponsor, The Blackpool Tower and Destination Sponsor, Blackpool Council were joined by Headline Sponsors University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), Virgin Trains and Blackpool and the Fylde College at the glittering dinner and awards ceremony, masterfully presented by esteemed journalist and broadcaster, John Sergeant.

John was one of the first and most memorable celebrities to appear on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing; this hugely popular dance contest is broadcast each year from Blackpool’s world famous Tower Ballroom, as the celebrity contestants reach the most hotly contested final stages of the series.

Lancashire’s business community also showed their support of the county’s £3.5billion visitor economy, through category, media and in-kind sponsorship.  These included: Dewlay Cheese, Heart Radio, Lancashire Business View, Lancashire Evening Post, Lancashire Life, Links Signs and Graphics, Napthens Solicitors, Northern Print Distribution, Pannone, Preston’s College, Roots Hand Cooked Vegetable Crisps, The Via Partnership, Total Foodservice, Typical Type, Whitney Woods and Workhouse Creative Marketing.

Ruth Connor, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire, in her opening speech thanked the sponsors and business community for their incredible support, before continuing

“Tonight is all about YOU, our Lancashire tourism businesses and ambassadors who are simply the best in terms of quality, diversity, endurance and sheer tenacity in creating products, services and experiences that customers come back for time and time again.

“You as businesses, suppliers, individuals, and entrepreneurs have created and delivered tremendous success stories that help Marketing Lancashire tell the Lancashire story in such a powerful way. I congratulate and thank each and every one of you for not only being here tonight but for making such a difference to the Lancashire economy.”

The evening’s final award was for Tourism Superstar, with the winner decided by an online public vote hosted by Lancashire Evening Post; the Tourism Superstar award acknowledges an individual who has gone the ‘extra mile’ to enhance the visitor experience or has been an extraordinary ambassador for Lancashire tourism.  This year’s winner Sue Copp, who has worked for over 20 years at Sandcastle Waterpark, was presented with her award by County Councillor, Jennifer Mein Leader of Lancashire County Council.

The entertainment for the event was chosen to celebrate Lancashire entertainers and to bring to life elements of The Tower’s rich heritage.  The audience was reminded of the influence of Lancashire-born ukulele player George Formby, once the country’s highest paid performer; Nancy & Pearl, also known as The Mersey Belles, performed a range of modern and traditional tunes to the delight of the audience.  In recognition of the ballroom’s reputation as a place for dancers, Shannon Lily-Parker and Peter Parker familiar to many as Bitter Harvest, finalists in Sky 1’s Got To Dance, performed their finale piece as well as a Tango, specially created for the Lancashire Tourism Awards.  At the end of the evening Colne-based singer Russell Shaun and his swing band had the room on their feet enjoying tunes that have so often filled this stunning ballroom.

The Winners of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2014

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

B&B/Guest Accommodation Award*
Broadgate Farm B&B, Bleasdale
The Borough, Lancaster
The Bromley, Blackpool
The Castle Inn, Hornby – WINNER
The Spread Eagle, Clitheroe
Wagon & Horses, Lancaster

Holiday Park/Holiday Village Award* 
Bay View Holiday Park, Carnforth- WINNER
Claylands Park, Garstang
Ribblesdale Park, Gisburn

Small Hotel Award*
Briardene Hotel, Thonton Cleveleys
Hipping Hall, Kirkby Lonsdale
The Millstone Hotel, Mellor
Northcote, Langho – WINNER
Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn
The Villa Country House Hotel, Wrea Green

Large Hotel Award*
Barton Grange Hotel, Preston
Big Blue Hotel, Blackpool
Elgin Hotel, Blackpool
Holiday Inn Express Burnley
Holiday Inn Lancaster
Lancaster House Hotel – WINNER
Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel and Spa, Clayton-le-Moors
The Midland, Morecambe

Self-Catering Holiday Provider Award*
The Berkeley Apartments, Blackpool
Canal Boat Cruises, Hoghton
Crook Hall Farm, Nr Ormskirk – WINNER
Queens Mansions Holiday Apartments, Blackpool
Wolfen Mill Country Retreats, Chipping

Conference / Meeting Venue Award*
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Preston Marriott Hotel
West Lancashire Investment Centre, Skelmersdale
Winter Gardens, Blackpool -WINNER

Wedding Venue Award
Ashton Hall, Lancaster – WINNER
Browsholme Hall and Tithe Barn, Clitheroe
The Wedding Chapel, Blackpool
Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping
The Great Hall at Mains, Poulton-le-Fylde
The Midland, Morecambe
Mitton Hall, Nr Whalley
The Villa Country House Hotel, Wrea Green

Taste Lancashire Award*
The Assheton Arms, Clitheroe
The Castle Inn, Hornby
The Highwayman, Kirkby Lonsdale
La Locanda Ristorante Italiano, Gisburn
Parkers Arms, Newton in Bowland – WINNER
Roaming Roosters, Nr Burnley
Twelve Restaurant and Lounge Bar, Thornton Cleveleys

Tourism Pub Award*
The Assheton Arms, Clitheroe
The Cartford Inn, Little Eccleston
Freemasons at Wiswell – WINNER
The Sparrowhawk, Fence
The Three Fishes, Mitton

Retail Experience Award
Brooks Collectables Museum & Retro Arcade, Blackpool
Cedar Farm, Mawdesley – WINNER
Roaming Roosters, Nr Burnley
St George’s Shopping Centre, Preston
Lancaster & Morecambe Visitor Information Centres
Maureen Cookson, Whalley

Tourism Event Award*
120th Anniversary at Blackpool Tower
Blackpool Switch-on Festival Weekend
Clitheroe Food Festival
The Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival, Colne
Harris Flights, Preston
Lancaster Music Festival
Light up Lancaster
Lytham Proms
Lytham 1940s Wartime Festival
Ride the Lights, Blackpool
Tram Sunday, Fleetwood
Vintage by the Sea, Morecambe – WINNER

Small Visitor Attraction Award*
Astley Hall Coach House and Park, Chorley
Brooks Collectables Museum & Retro Arcade, Blackpool
Canal Boat Cruises, Hoghton – WINNER
Carnforth Station Heritage Centre
Go Ape Rivington
Leighton Hall, Carnforth
The Visitor Centre at Mrs Dowsons, Clayton-le-Dale

Large Visitor Attraction Award*
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Blackpool Zoo
Brockholes, Preston
East Lancashire Railway – WINNER
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough

Cultural Venue / Organisation Award
Browsholme Hall, Clitheroe
The Dukes, Lancaster
Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool
Horse + Bamboo Theatre, Rossendale
Lancashire Classical Music Collaboration
Lancashire County Council Museums Service
Towneley Hall, Burnley
Winter Gardens, Blackpool – WINNER

Sustainable Tourism Award*
Browsholme Hall, Clitheroe
Holiday Inn Lancaster
Lancaster House Hotel
Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green – WINNER
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough

Luxury Experience Award
Breck Apartments, Poulton-le-Fylde
Crow Wood Leisure, Burnley
Hipping Hall, Kirkby Lonsdale
Northcote, Langho – WINNER

Best Visitor Experience Award*
Atlas Sailing, Fleetwood
Bay Sea School, Morecambe
Blackpool Ghost Walks
Canoe and Boat Safari at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough
St Annes Beach Huts – WINNER
World War One Events at Lancashire County Council Cultural Services

Customer Service Award
Ashton Hall, Lancaster
Blackburn Visitor Centre
Lancaster & Morecambe Visitor Information Centre Team
Mode Hotel, Lytham St Annes
Premier Inn Preston South Hotel – WINNER
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
Toast Cafe Bar and Grill, Blackpool
Visit Garstang Tourist Information Centre

New Business Award
Breck Apartments, Poulton-le-Fylde
Brickhouse Farm Cottages, Hambleton – WINNER
Farmers Arms, Great Eccleston
The Fenwick, Lancaster
Ireby Green Farm, Preston
Samlesbury Hotel, Preston
Stanley Villa Farm Camping, Preston

Best for Groups Award
Boundary Mill Stores, Colne
Ena Mill, Various locations
Leighton Hall, Carnforth – WINNER
Rock and River Outdoor Pursuits, Various locations

Tourism Superstar
Roger Carter, Bay Tourism
Sue Copp, Sandcastle Waterpark – WINNER
John Gillmore, BBC Radio Lancashire

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

<<ENDS>>

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