Marketing Lancashire, the county’s tourist board and destination management organisation, has announced the first finalists in the annual Lancashire Tourism Awards.

Around 50 businesses will now progress to the next stage of the competition, which has 17 categories and includes mystery shopping in some cases, followed by a presentation and interview with a panel of judges. 

Chief executive of Marketing Lancashire, Rachel McQueen, said: “It was always going to take time for the sector to recover from the last couple of years, but if there was ever a good sign that Lancashire tourism is bouncing back, it is in the calibre and creativity of this year’s finalists in the Lancashire Tourism Awards. 

“They represent the very best of the county’s accommodation, attractions and hospitality businesses and, in this first stage of the competition, have demonstrated healthy bookings, improvements to their visitor offer and some truly ambitious plans for the future – which are all very exciting. 

“Lancashire’s tourism and hospitality businesses are nothing short of remarkable in their resilience and innovation and we look forward to celebrating with all the finalists and our supporters at the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2022 event in the new year.” 

The judges are experts drawn from the tourism and hospitality sector and from a wide range of successful business backgrounds including this year's Lancashire Tourism Awards sponsors, who are as follows: DFC, Harrison Drury, insight6, Lancashire Business View, Links Signs & Graphics, Northern Print Distribution Ltd, Total Foodservice. 

Lancashire Telegraph: Rachel McQueenRachel McQueen

Three categories - the Small and Large Event of the Year, and Taste Lancashire Producer award - remain open for applications until Sunday September 18, and the finalists in these categories will be announced the week beginning September 26.

For more information and how to apply go to lancashiretourismawards.com.  

The finalists in the Unsung Hero award, recognising an individual working for a tourism business who excels in their role and deserves to be applauded for their work and commitment to the industry, will be announced shortly. 

All finalists will meet and be interviewed by the judges in early November, with the awards ceremony due to take place at the start of 2023. 

The finalists announced today are: 

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award *

  • Brickhouse Farm Holiday Cottages & Lakeside Hub, Hambleton
  • The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton 
  • Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs 
  • Thornton Hall Country Park, Thornton-in-Craven

Business Events Venue of the Year *

  • Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley 
  • Ewood Experience, Blackburn 
  • Merlin Events, Blackpool 
  • The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth 
  • Winter Gardens Blackpool

Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year *

  • Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Newsholme 
  • Newton Hall Holiday Park, Blackpool 
  • Ribble Valley Retreat, Langho
  • The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale  
  • Stanley Villa Farm Fishing & Camping, Greenhalgh 

Cultural Venue/Organisation Award

  • Lancaster Grand Theatre 
  • Samlesbury Hall 
  • Winter Gardens Blackpool

Dog Friendly Business of the Year

  • Bella Vista Lodge, Blackpool 
  • The Golden Ball of Longton 
  • HAPPA, Shores Hey Farm, Briercliffe 
  • The Lawrence Hotel, Padiham
  • Mowbreck Holiday Park, Wesham

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award *

  • Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Newsholme 
  • Laythams Holiday Lets Retreat, Slaidburn 
  • The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth

Experience of the Year *

  • Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours 
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach ‘Walk The…’ Experiences 
  • Countryside & Culinary Breaks at Dale House Barn, Slaidburn 
  • Goosnargh Gin School Experience Days 
  • Inch Perfect Trials Experience Day, Whitewell

Hotel Wedding Venue of the Year 

  • Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley 
  • Mitton Hall, Mitton 
  • Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho 
  • Stanley House Hotel & Spa, Mellor

Lancashire Perfect Stay – Small Serviced Accommodation *

  • 3 Millstones Inn, West Bradford 
  • Dale House Barn and B&B, Slaidburn  
  • Fence Gate Lodge, Fence 
  • The Lawrence Hotel, Padiham 
  • The Royal at Heysham  

Large Hotel of the Year *

  • Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley 
  • Foxfields Country Hotel, Whalley 
  • Hampton by Hilton Blackpool 
  • Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho

New Tourism Business of the Year * 

  • The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton
  • Ribble Valley Retreat, Langho

Pub of the Year *

  • PLAU, Preston 
  • Shireburn Arms, Hurst Green 
  • White Bull Oswaldtwistle

Resilience and Innovation Award *

  • The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale 
  • The Whitehall Hotel & Distillery, Darwen 
  • Winter Gardens Blackpool

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year *

  • Brickhouse Holiday Cottages, Hambleton
  • Laythams Holiday Lets Retreat, Clitheroe 
  • Oakdean Cottages, Langho 

Taste Lancashire Award *

  • 263 Restaurant, Preston 
  • The Coach and Horses, Bolton-by-Bowland 
  • La Locanda, Gisburn 

Visitor Attraction of the Year *

  • The Blackpool Tower 
  • The Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre, Brock 
  • Thornton Hall Country Park, Thornton-in-Craven 

Wedding Venue of the Year  

  • The Mount Pavilion, Poulton 
  • The Out Barn, Waddington 
  • Samlesbury Hall 
  • The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth 

*The winners in these categories have the chance to progress to the national Visit England Awards for Excellence.