Lancashire Tourism Awards 2017 – The Finalists

The county’s tourism industry ‘best in class’ revealed

Marketing Lancashire, the county’s destination management organisation, today (Thursday 28 September) revealed the finalists of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2017.

The event, now in its 14th year is the only pan-Lancashire tourism-focused awards ceremony, taking place this year on Thursday 9 November in the magnificent, world famous, Blackpool Tower Ballroom, with Headline Sponsor University of Central Lancashire.

Ruth Connor, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire said, “The response to this year’s Lancashire Tourism Awards has been outstanding, testament to the quality and variety of tourism experiences and exceptional hospitality businesses on offer to the 67million visitors now enjoying short breaks and holidays each year in Lancashire.

“The tourism industry is vital to the economic health of the county and deserves a dedicated event that rewards and celebrates everyone who contributes to the success of Lancashire’s thriving £4.13billion visitor economy.

“Those who have reached this stage of the competition are to be congratulated, as applications increase each year and the field of competition grows. We wish all the finalists the very best of luck and look forward to sharing their success, with the support of colleagues across the industry, at a spectacular event in the country’s most famous ballroom, in the UK’s favourite seaside resort, Blackpool.”

Finalists of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2017 will now be invited to an interview with the judges on Wednesday 18 or Thursday 19 October at Northcote at the Rovers, Blackburn. During this process each finalist will have the opportunity to discuss their application in more detail with the judging panels; each judging panel brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of business, hospitality and the visitor economy to the awards.

Lancashire’s Tourism Superstar Award 2017 shortlist will be announced next week and the public will be invited to vote for their ultimate Lancashire winner. The winner of the Lancashire Tourism Superstar Award is the only award to be chosen by the public.

The black-tie event will take place at The Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Thursday 9 November and tickets are on sale for businesses and industry partners to buy online from lancashiretourismawards.com.  The event is 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

Lancashire Tourism Awards Finalists 2017

Small Visitor Attraction Award*
Carnforth Station Heritage Centre
HAPPA, Shores Hey Farm, Burnley
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

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

Retail Experience Award
Freeport Fleetwood
Leyland Market
Whalley Warm & Dry

Large Hotel Award*
Barton Grange Hotel, Preston
Best Western Plus Samlesbury Hotel, Preston
The Elgin Hotel, Blackpool
Lancaster House
The Midland, Morecambe
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

Small Tourism Event Award
Burnley Canal Festival
Canal Fest at Botany Bay, Chorley
Chorley Flower Show
Cloudspotting, Slaidburn
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
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
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
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
The Woodland Spa, Burnley

New Business Award
Ascent Trampoline Park, Blackpool
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
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
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
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

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

Inclusive Tourism Award*
Browsholme Hall, Clitheroe
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

Guest Accommodation Award*
The Red Pump Inn, Clitheroe
Crow Wood, Burnley

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

*winners of these categories will have the opportunity to represent Lancashire in the
2018 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence

Finalist tickets and corporate tables are on sale now, through the awards website LancashireTourismAwards.com A limited number of categories are available for businesses or organisations interested in sponsoring Lancashire’s foremost celebration of the county’s visitor economy – for more information contact Maria Moriarty Eames, Head of Partnerships Tel: 01772 426450 .

Keep up with all the latest awards news by following @MarketingLancs #LTA17 on Twitter