Northumberland celebrates as county tops the winners at awards
23 Apr 2020 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
Northumberland found reason to celebrate today as the county topped the list of winners at this year’s North East England Tourism Awards.
The awards were announced online with judges from each category outlining the strengths of the winning applications in a show of support for the industry at this difficult time.
There were eight Gold winners from Northumberland, out of 15 categories, with the county once again having more winners than any other area in the region.
Winners included Falconry Days, of Simonburn, Hexham which picked up two awards in both the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category and one of the new categories for this year - the International Tourism Award.
Matfen Hall was named Large Hotel of the Year and once again St Cuthbert’s House in Seahouses picked up the Gold for B&B and Guest House of the Year and Seafield Caravan Park also in Seahouses was named Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year.
Other winners were South Tynedale Railway who won Gold in the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award and The Apple Inn, in Lucker picked up the coveted Pub of the Year award.
And for the second year in a row St Oswald’s Farm on Hadrian’s Wall was named Self Catering Accommodation Provider of the Year.
Cllr Cath Homer, cabinet member for Culture, Arts, Leisure and Tourism at Northumberland County Council said: “I would like to congratulate all of our Northumberland winners. We know that it is a worrying time for our tourism industry and for all those businesses that add to our county’s success. However it is these businesses and their continued passion and commitment who will help us to economic recovery once current restrictions are eased.
“As a council we are doing all we can to support businesses, particularly in the tourism industry through these difficult times by continuing to show why Northumberland is a destination of choice, and when the time is right, visitors will be welcomed back to our great county with open arms.”
Winners of the North East England Tourism Awards will now automatically be put forward to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2020.
Full list of winners(Northumberland Winners in Red):
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
Gold – Sage Gateshead
Silver – Go North East
Bronze – South Tynedale Railway
B&B and Guest House of the Year
Gold – St Cuthbert’s House
Silver – Millstone House Bed and Breakfast
Bronze – Market Cross Guest House
Highly commended – Layside Bed and Breakfast
Highly commended – St Valery Boutique and Breakfast
Business Events Venue of the Year
Gold – Sage Gateshead
Silver – Newcastle City Council Civic Centre Banqueting
Bronze – Event Durham, Durham University
Highly commended – The Biscuit Factory
Highly commended – Northumbria University – Venues at Northumbria University
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
Gold - Seafield Caravan Park
Silver – Hesleyside Huts
Bronze – Westfield House Farm Shepherd’s Huts
Highly commended - Herding Hill Farm Touring, Camping and Glamping Site
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award
Gold – South Tynedale Railway
Silver - Battlesteads
Bronze – Sage Gateshead
Highly commended – Westfield House Farm
Highly commended – St Cuthbert’s House
Experience of the Year
Gold – CBK’s Adventure Co.
Silver – Footsteps in Northumberland
Bronze – The Alnwick Garden
Highly commended – Falconry Days
Large Hotel of the Year
Gold – Matfen Hall Hotel, Gold and Spa
Silver – Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa
Bronze – The Vermont Hotel
Highly commended – Doxford Hall Hotel
Small Hotel of the Year
Gold – Seaham Hall
Silver – Walwick Hall
Bronze – Lord Crewe Arms
Highly commended – Battlesteads
Highly commended – Wynyard Hall
International Tourism Award
Gold – Falconry Days
Silver – Event Durham, Durham University
New Tourism Business Award
Gold – Maldron Hotel Newcastle
Silver – The Amble Inn
Bronze – Shepherds Retreats Ltd
Highly commended – STACK Newcastle
Highly commended – Spanish City
Pub of the Year
Gold – The Apple Inn
Silver – The Angel of Corbridge
Bronze – Twice Brewed Inn
Highly commended – The Botanist Newcastle
Self-Catering Accommodation Provider of the Year
Gold – St Oswald’s Farm
Silver – Main Cottages
Bronze – Brunton House and Cottages
Highly commended – Vindomora Country Lodges
Taste of North East England Award
Gold – Dobson and Parnell
Silver – Restaurant Hjem
Bronze – Battlesteads
Highly commended – Barrasford Arms
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Gold – Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
Silver – The Alnwick Garden
Bronze – Bamburgh Castle
Highly commended – Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
Highly commended – Great North Museum: Hancock
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Gold – Falconry Days
Silver – Newham Grange Farm
Bronze – Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums – Arbeia South Shields’ Roman