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Spotlight on winning Durham businesses
20th November 2017
Categories: Latest News
Durham businesses were celebrating after scooping a number of prestigious awards at the North East England Tourism Awards 2017 last night.
Tourism businesses from across the North East were celebrated at the high-profile ceremony held at The Boiler Shop in partnership with Crowne Plaza Newcastle in the Stephenson Quarter, Newcastle.
BBC Radio Newcastle breakfast show presenter Alfie Joey hosted the awards and entertained guests throughout the evening.
Durham won three prestigious Gold awards for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, Visitor Information Provider of the Year and the Business Tourism Award, one Silver award, one Bronze award and one Highly Commended award.
Gold award winners from Durham were as follows:
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
Visitor Information Provider of the Year - Durham Pointers
Business Tourism Award - Event Durham, Durham University
Silver was awarded to Hall Hill Farm in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category. A bronze award was won by Seaham Hall in the Hotel of the Year category, which was also Highly Commended in the Business Tourism Award category.
Michelle Gorman, managing director of Visit County Durham, who was in attendance at the awards ceremony, said: “It was great to see Durham businesses shine in these coveted awards. We’re delighted that their dedication and passion for the tourist industry has been recognised. It is also indicative of the versatility and quality of tourism offer in Durham that we have a clutch of deserving winners.”
The awards play a key role in showcasing the range of high-quality tourism businesses and experiences on offer to visitors across the North East. All winners now have the chance to enter the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2018.
The North East England Tourism Awards are organised and delivered by NewcastleGateshead Initiative and NGI Solutions in partnership with the Northern Tourism Alliance.
Sarah Stewart, chief executive at destination management and marketing organisation NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “Huge congratulations to all of tonight’s winners. It’s been another brilliant year for entries and we received a high standard of entrants across all categories.
“The tourism sector in the North East of England continues to thrive, from our buzzing city centres to our beautiful coastline and varied countryside. Next year promises to be another exciting one for the region as we welcome the Great Exhibition of the North which will have a major impact on our visitor, and wider, economy.”
The Northern Tourism Alliance is a collaboration of the region’s tourism bodies who work together on projects that will benefit the tourism industry across the region. The members of the alliance are NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Northumberland Tourism, Visit County Durham, The North East Hotels Association, South Tyneside Council and North Tyneside Council.
Full list of winners:
Hotel of the Year
Gold – Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant
Silver – Crowne Plaza Newcastle - Stephenson Quarter
Bronze – Seaham Hall
Highly commended – Hotel du Vin
Boutique Guest Accommodation of the Year
Gold – Newton Hall
Silver – The Percy Arms, Chatton
Bronze – The Joiners Arms
Highly commended – Barrasford Arms
Bed and Breakfast of the Year
Gold – St Cuthbert's House
Silver – Mill House B&B
Bronze – West Longridge Manor B&B
Highly commended – The Old Manse B&B
Self-Catering Holiday Provider of the Year
Gold – Brunton House and Cottages
Silver – Mains Cottages, Northumberland Self Catering Cottages Ltd
Bronze – Renner Farming - Bellshill Tower
Highly commended – West Wood Yurts
Holiday Park/Holiday Village of the Year
Gold – Seafield Caravan Park
Silver – Kielder Waterside
Bronze – Ord House Country Park
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Gold – South Tynedale Railway
Silver – Hall Hill Farm
Bronze – Kirkley Hall
Highly commended - The Aln Valley Railway Trust
Highly commended - Bide-a-Wee Cottage Garden and Nursery
Highly commended - Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Gold – Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
Silver – Kielder Water & Forest Park (KWFP)
Bronze – The Alnwick Garden
Guided Tour of the Year
Gold – BBC Tours
Silver – Wild Dog Outdoors
Bronze – Victoria Tunnel
Highly commended – Behind the Books @ the Lit & Phil
Dog Friendly Business of the Year
Gold – South Tynedale Railway
Silver – Mains Cottages, Northumberland Self Catering Cottages Ltd
Bronze – Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant
Tourism Pub of the Year
Gold – The Apple Inn
Silver – The Botanist
Bronze – Barrasford Arms
Taste of England Award
Gold – Block and Bottle
Silver – Blackfriars Restaurant Banquet Hall, Cookery School, Parlour Bar and Tasting Room
Bronze – The Potted Lobster
Highly commended – Barrasford Arms
Sustainable Tourism Award
Gold – Laverock Law Cottages
Silver – St Cuthbert's House
Inclusive Tourism Award
Gold – Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books
Silver – Sage Gateshead
Business Tourism Award
Gold – Event Durham, Durham University
Silver – Sage Gateshead
Bronze – Newcastle City Council, Hospitality Services
Highly commended – Seaham Hall
Visitor Information Provider of the Year
Gold – Durham Pointers
Bronze – South Tyneside Visitor Information Centre
Highly commended – Hartlepool Borough Council – Hartlepool Railway Station & Coast Project
