VisitEngland reveals finalists for 2015 Awards for Excellence

VisitEngland has announced the list of finalists for its 2015 Awards for Excellence, which aims to celebrate “the very best England has to offer”. The finalists, who will be awarded at a ceremony on Monday, May 11, include a mixture of attractions, accommodation providers, tourism experiences, tourist information centres and other businesses within the industry. The shortlist was drawn up by independent assessors and judged by a board of tourism industry experts. James Berresford, VisitEngland’s chief executive, said: “I would like to congratulate all those nominated as VisitEngland Awards for Excellence finalists this year. We receive hundreds of applications each year of an extremely high standard, so it is a fantastic achievement for any tourism business to become a finalist. “Each finalist is already a winner and can take justifiable pride and credit in earning a coveted place in the top five in their category in England, and in the contribution they make to an industry worth £106bn to the economy, supporting 2.6 million jobs. I wish all our finalists the very best of luck for the awards ceremony in May in Gateshead”. The finalists: Tourism Event of the Year Bournemouth Air Festival 2014, Bournemouth The Cotswold Show, Cirencester Mallard 75, National Railway Museum, York Northumbrian Water – Kielder Winter Wonderland, Hexham Vintage by the Sea - The Midland, Morecambe Self-Catering Holiday Provider of the Year Bosinver Farm Cottages, St Austell The Dandelion Hideaway, Market Bosworth The Dovecote Barns York, York High Barn Cottages, Nr. Bridlington Millbrook Cottages, High Bickington Visitor Information Provider of the Year Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre, Chesterfield City of London Information Centre, London Durham Visitor Information Network, Durham Simply Staffordshire, Uttoxeter The Welcome People, London Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Chatsworth, Bakewell Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Telford Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool The Lost Gardens of Heligan, St Austell The Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath Small Hotel of the Year Brockencote Hall Hotel, Kidderminster Cedar Manor Hotel & Restaurant, Windermere Hell Bay Hotel, Isles of Scilly The Horn of Plenty, Tavistock Mallory Court, Royal Leamington Spa The Talbot Hotel, Malton Business Tourism Award Barnett Hill, Guildford Event Durham, Durham University, Durham National Space Centre, Leicester The University of Manchester Conferences and Venues, Manchester Woodland Grange Conference Centre, Leamington Spa Taste of England Award Delifonseca Dockside, Liverpool Hotel Maiyango, Leicester The Parkers Arms, Newton in Bowland Stokes Tea & Coffee, Lincoln Yorebridge House, Leyburn Holiday Park/Holiday Village of the Year Cofton Country Holidays, Dawlish Poston Mill Park, Hereford Seafield Caravan Park, Seahouses Searles Leisure Resort in Hunstanton, Hunstanton Trethem Mill Touring Park, Truro Tourism Pub of the Year The Exchange, Leicester Freemasons at Wiswell, Clitheroe The Pandora Inn, Falmouth Wild Boar Inn, Grill & Smokehouse, Nr Windermere The Wro Bar, Lounge & Loft, West Kirby Tourism Experience of the Year The Cycle Hub, Newcastle upon Tyne Farm Stay UK Ltd, Kenilworth Livingstone Lodge Overnight Safari Experience, Port Lympne Reserve, Ashford St Annes Beach Huts, Lytham Treetop Trek Ltd, Windermere Bed & Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year Colton House, Rugeley Lower Barns Boutique B&B, St Austell Mere Brook House, Wirral The Old Rectory of St James, Telford Swan House, Hastings Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke on Trent Owl & Monkey Haven, Newport Stott Park Bobbin Mill, Ulverston Topsail Charters Ltd, Maldon The World of James Herriot, Thirsk Large Hotel of the Year Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa, New Milton Ellenborough Park, Cheltenham The Manor House Hotel, Moreton-on-the-Marsh Matfen Hall Hotel, Newcastle upon Tyne Peckforton Castle, Tarporley Sustainable Tourism Award At Bristol Science Centre, Bristol Colton House, Rugeley The Green House Hotel, Bournemouth St Cuthbert’s House, Seahouses Wheatland Farm Eco Lodges, Winkleigh Access for All Tourism Award The Bristol Hippodrome, Bristol Eureka! The National Children’s Museum, Halifax Kernock Cottages, Saltash Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool