Lancashire Tourism Awards – The Winners 2016

On Thursday 10 November, Blackburn Cathedral, the Cathedral of Lancashire was a stunning venue for Marketing Lancashire’s annual Lancashire Tourism Awards, supported by host sponsors Blackburn with Darwen Council and headline sponsor University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

Award-winning journalist and broadcaster Bill Turnbull was guest presenter, entertaining the audience and guiding the event masterfully through eighteen awards.

Blackburn Cathedral sits at the very heart of the new development at the Cathedral Quarter and was the perfect setting for 450-strong audience to celebrate Lancashire’s tourism excellence and the £3.8billion contribution that the industry makes to the Lancashire economy. 

Ruth Connor, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire said, “Tonight’s Lancashire Tourism Awards is all about Lancashire’s amazing tourism businesses, experiences and of course our people; it’s about celebrating and recognising the quality that we have in our tourism industry that attracts over 64million people to the county.

“We said we’d return to the Cathedral for the Lancashire Tourism Awards, once the Cathedral Quarter work had been completed. The transformation and the difference that the development has made is wonderful. I must congratulate all those involved in making this happen, especially Blackburn with Darwen Council, for their vision and to Canon Hindley and the community of Blackburn Cathedral, who as Host Sponsor and hosts have made us so welcome this evening.

“UCLan, our Headline Sponsor, is one Lancashire’s key assets, with an outstanding reputation and global connections. We are grateful to the Tourism and Hospitality Management faculty for their support and we look forward to further strengthening our partnership with them.

“A thriving visitor economy makes such a difference to a place. The Lancashire visitor economy is worth £3.8 billion annually and continues to grow year after year. I believe we have the people, the products and above all else the right attitude to get this county noticed and appreciated. We must be very proud of the many outstanding people and individuals here tonight, that represent the best of what Lancashire tourism has to offer.”

Businesses supporting this year’s awards include: Headline Sponsor UCLan, BBC Radio Lancashire, Blackburn College, Blackburn Rovers Football Club, Brilliant Trees Media, Café Northcote, Hospitality Industry Training, Huddle Media, Lancashire Business View, Lancashire Evening Post, Links Signs and Graphics, Northcote at the Rovers, Northern Print Distribution, Quality In Tourism and Total Foodservice

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 was none other than Leye D Johns from VIVA Blackpool who transformed a large empty Mecca Bingo Hall into a one room entertainment and events complex, dedicated to providing quality, live entertainment for Blackpool’s many visitors. Leye has in four years built audiences to 70,000 visitors, brought much needed jobs to local people and helped support many local charities that are close to his heart.

Guests enjoyed a superb three course Lancashire-inspired dinner catered by Café Northcote, with a surprise additional cheese course supplied by Dewlay Cheesemakers.

See full list of winners below, highlighted in each category:

The Winners of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2016

BEST HOTEL AWARD * sponsored by University of Central Lancashire          

Barton Grange Hotel, Preston
Elgin Hotel, Blackpool
Gibbon Bridge Hotel and Restaurant, Chipping
Northcote, Langho –  WINNER
The SPA Hotel at Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green

BOUTIQUE ACCOMMODATION AWARD* sponsored by Blackburn Rovers 

The Kings, Blackpool
Hipping Hall, Kirkby Lonsdale  – WINNER
Lady Teal, Burnley
Mode Hotel, Lytham St Annes

SELF-CATERING HOLIDAY AWARD* sponsored by Quality in Tourism

Breck Apartments, Poulton le Fylde
Brickhouse Farm Holiday Cottages, Hambleton – WINNER
Marton Mere Holiday Village, Blackpool
Windy Harbour Holiday Park, Thornton Cleveleys

SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION AWARD* sponsored by Northern Print Distribution

Burnley Mechanics, Burnley
Carnforth Station Heritage Centre – WINNER
Go Ape Rivington
Mrs Dowsons, Blackburn

LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION AWARD* sponsored by Brilliant Trees Media

Blackpool Zoo
The Blackpool Tower – WINNER
East Lancashire Railway, Rawtenstall
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool

VISITOR EXPERIENCE AWARD sponsored by Links Signs and Graphics

Lady Teal, Burnley
Northcote Cook School, Langho
St Annes Beach Huts, Lytham St Annes -WINNER
Swan Spectacular at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough

TOURISM PUB AWARD* sponsored by Hospitality Industry Training

The Aspinall Arms, Whalley
The Sparrowhawk, Fence
The Three Fishes, Whalley – WINNER

TASTE LANCASHIRE AWARD* sponsored  by Total Foodservice

Aspect Bar & Bistro, Morecambe
The Bay Horse Inn, Lancaster
Bertram’s Restaurant, Burnley
Infusions Cafe Bistro, Burscough
La Locanda Ristorante Italiano, Gisburn – WINNER
Twelve Restaurant and Lounge Bar, Thornton Cleveleys

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD *

Browsholme Hall and The Tithe Barn, Clitheroe – WINNER
Lancaster House Hotel, Lancaster
Moss Wood Caravan Park, Cockerham
RSPB Leighton Moss, Carnforth

ACCESS FOR ALL AWARD*

Brickhouse Farm Holiday Cottages, Hambleton
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool  – WINNER

CONFERENCE OR MEETING VENUE AWARD* sponsored by Blackburn College
Barton Grange Hotel, Preston
Samlesbury Hotel, Samlesbury
Winter Gardens Blackpool – WINNER

WEDDING VENUE AWARD

Browsholme Hall and The Tithe Barn, Clitheroe
Gibbon Bridge Hotel and Restaurant, Chipping
Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green
The Wellbeing Farm, Turton –  WINNER
West Tower Exclusive Wedding Venue, Ormskirk

SMALL TOURISM EVENT AWARD sponsored by Lancashire Evening Post

Blackburn Cathedral Flower Festival
Burnley Canal Festival
Chorley Flower Show –  WINNER
Obsession at Northcote, Langho

LARGE TOURISM EVENT AWARD sponsored University of Central Lancashire

Blackpool Dance Festival
Lancaster Music Festival
Santa Specials at East Lancashire Railway, Rawtenstall
Vintage by the Sea, Morecambe WINNER

CULTURAL VENUE OR ORGANISATION AWARD sponsored by Mercer Print

Burnley Mechanics, Burnley – WINNER
Clitheroe Concerts Society
Winter Gardens Blackpool

LANCASHIRE PRODUCERS & MAKERS AWARD sponsored by Huddle Media

Artisan Foodworks, Burscough
Bowland Brewery, Clitheroe – WINNER
Cool Cow Ice Cream, Nr Preston
Frederick’s Ice Cream Limited, Chorley

NEW BUSINESS AWARD sponsored by Lancashire Business View

Ascent Trampoline Park, Blackpool
Bowland Cottage, Newton-in-Bowland
The Hunters Pub and Dining, Preston
Lancaster Music CIC, Lancaster  – WINNER

*Winners in these award categories have an opportunity to represent Lancashire at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2016.