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