A number of East Lancashire businesses have triumphed at this year's Lancashire Tourism Awards.
On Wednesday evening, Marketing Lancashire hosted almost 400 tourism and hospitality partners and colleagues, at the new Orangeraie at Stanley House Hotel and Spa in Mellor, where guest presenter Tez Ilyas, alongside Headline Sponsor UCLan and Destination Sponsor, Blackburn with Darwen Council celebrated the winners of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2021.
After a gap of two years due to the pandemic, the Lancashire Tourism Awards returned with resounding applause for the county’s resilient and innovative visitor economy businesses.
Blackburn-born comedian Tez Ilyas steered the proceeding through eighteen awards, with two surprise awards also given out during the evening.
In her opening speech Rachel McQueen, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire, said: “We have lost so much over the last two years, and I know that many in this room will have suffered personal as well as professional pain.
"But we have gained something too – the undeniable truth that the Lancastrian spirit will never be defeated, and the recognition, finally, that this great county is nothing without its tourism and hospitality businesses.
“When you were forced to close your doors, everyone realised how much they were missing, and how big an impact on the quality of life in Lancashire that the visitor economy makes.
"There is absolutely no shortage of pride, passion and ambition in this room, and myself and the Marketing Lancashire team look forward to working with you to support the county’s tourism and hospitality sector to thrive once more.”
The challenges of the last two years prompted the inclusion of a new Resilience and Innovation Award, which was presented to Inch Perfect Trials by Lancashire Director of Public Health Dr Sakthi Karunanithi.
The unsung hero award, recognising the work of individuals or groups throughout the pandemic was presented to Glen Duckett of the Eagle and Child and Eat Grow Thrive.
Two surprise awards, for outstanding contribution, were also made to Tony Attard OBE, who stood down as Chair of Marketing Lancashire after seven years, and to Maurizio and Cinzia Bocchi of La Locanda, for their outstanding contribution to Taste Lancashire.
The full list of finalists and winners follows:
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
Brickhouse Farm Holiday Cottages, Hambleton
Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs WINNER
Mrs Dowsons Farm Park, Clayton-le-Dale
Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park of the Year
Dearden Wood, Edenfield
Rossendale Holiday Cottages & Glamping
Stanley Villa Farm Fishing & Camping, Greenhalgh WINNER
Cultural Venue/Organisation of the Year
Browsholme Hall, Cow Ark
Culturapedia, Blackburn
Lowther Pavilion, Lytham St Annes
The Whitaker Museum + Art Gallery, Rawtenstall WINNER
Winter Gardens Blackpool
Dog Friendly Business of the Year
The Golden Ball of Longton WINNER
Mowbreck Holiday & Residential Park, Wesham
Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award
The Bee Centre, Brindle
Lancaster House
Moss Wood Caravan Park, Cockerham
Sandcastle Waterpark Blackpool
The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth WINNER
Experience of the Year
The Bee Centre, Brindle
Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours
Go Ape! Rivington
Goosnargh Gin WINNER
Hotel Wedding Venue of the Year
Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley WINNER
Foxfields Country Hotel, Whalley
Mytton Fold, Langho
Stanley House Hotel & Spa, Mellor
Lancashire Perfect Stay
The Coach & Horses, Bolton-by-Bowland WINNER
3 Millstones Inn, West Bradford
Stanley House Hotel & Spa, Mellor
Large Hotel of the Year
Clifton Arms Hotel, Lytham WINNER
Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley
Lancaster House
Mytton Fold, Langho
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Escape Entertainment Venue, Chorley
Viva Blackpool
Winter Gardens Blackpool WINNER
New Tourism Business Award
Hampton by Hilton Blackburn
Orchard Glamping, Catterall
Ridgeway Farm Blackpool
The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale WINNER
Resilience and Innovation Award
Briony Machin Studios, Mawdesley
Eagle and Child, Ramsbottom
Goosnargh Gin
Inch Perfect Trials, Whitewell WINNER
Thornton Hall Country Park, Thornton-in-Craven
The Whitehall Hotel and Distillery, Darwen
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
Laythams Holiday Lets Retreat, Slaidburn WINNER
Ream Hills Holiday Park, Weeton
Rossendale Holiday Cottages and Glamping
Windy Harbour Holiday Park, Thornton-Cleveleys
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Cedar Farm, Mawdesley WINNER
HAPPA Shores Hey Farm, Burnley
Leighton Hall, Carnforth
Mrs Dowsons Farm Park, Clayton-le-Dale
Restaurant of the Year
La Locanda, Gisburn
Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, Aughton WINNER
Wilfred's Restaurant and Bar, Burnley
Unsung Hero Award
Peter Baillie, Owner of Cedar Farm
Glen Duckett, Owner, Eagle & Child/Eat Grow Thrive WINNER
Justin Jerome, Head Chef, Stanley House Hotel & Spa
Pam Shread, Visitor Co-ordinator and Senior Guide, Leighton Hall
Wedding Venue of the Year
Bashall Barn, Bashall Eaves
Browsholme Hall, Cow Ark WINNER
The Out Barn, Bashall Eaves
The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth
The Lancashire Tourism Awards was sponsored by: University of Central Lancashire – Headline Sponsor, Blackburn with Darwen Council – Destination Sponsor, Booths, Creative Council, Dewlay, DFC Limited, Ewood Experience at Blackburn Rovers, insight6, Lancashire Business View, Lancashire Life, Links Signs and Graphics, Northern Print Distribution LTD and Stanley House Hotel and Spa.
The evening’s entertainment was provided by singing-duo, Timeless.
For the latest news and for more information go to lancashiretourismawards.com and follow @marketinglancs #LTA19
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