The North East England Tourism Awards were celebrated on Thursday 23 March 2023 at Newcastle’s Civic Centre, and were hosted by Radio Pride presenter Ophelia B.
TV presenter and actor Robson Green picked up a special Outstanding Contribution to North East Tourism. The special award was introduced this year to mark the 20th anniversary of the North East awards and will honour an individual, organisation or business who has made a fundamental contribution to the success of the region’s tourism industry.
Robson received the award in praise of his efforts to champion the region through his programmes, including his most recent, Weekend Escapes, which showcase the North East’s tourism offer nationally and internationally.
Winners on the night included Teesdale Cheesemakers Ltd, near Bishop Auckland, who picked up two Gold Awards for Taste of North East England and Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year.
Business Events Venue of the Year made a return to this year’s awards ceremony with The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre picking up the top prize. Seaham Hall Hotel also retained its title as gold winner in the Small Hotel of the Year category.
2023 Gold Winners
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award – Life Science Centre B&B and Guest House of the Year – Market Cross Guest House Business Events Venue of the Year – The Sill, National Landscape Discovery Centre Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year – Teesdale Cheesemakers Ltd Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism – Dalton Park Outlet Shopping Destination Experience of the Year – The Escape Key Large Hotel of the Year – Rockliffe Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Bamburgh Castle New Tourism Business Award – Hillside Huts & Cabins Pub of the Year – The Apple Inn, Lucker Resilience and Innovation Award – Langley Castle Hotel Self-Catering Provider of the Year – Kidlandlee Holiday Cottages Small Hotel of the Year – Seaham Hall Hotel Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours Taste of North East England – Teesdale Cheesemakers Ltd Unsung Hero Award – Mohamed Kamal, Spanish City
2023 Winners
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
GOLD: Life Science Centre
SILVER: Sage Gateshead
BRONZE: Sunderland Empire
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre
B&B and Guest House of the Year
GOLD: Market Cross Guest House
SILVER: The Bosk
BRONZE: Tynemouth 61 Guesthouse & Tea Room
Business Events Venue of the Year
GOLD: The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre
SILVER: The Common Room
BRONZE: Venues at Northumbria
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
GOLD: Teesdale Cheesemakers
SILVER: Hillside Huts & Cabins
BRONZE: Hesleyside Huts
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Herding Hill Farm
Ethical, Response and Sustainable Tourism
GOLD: Dalton Park Outlet Shopping Destination
SILVER: Kidlandlee
BRONZE: Laverock Law Cottages
Experience of the Year
GOLD: The Escape Key
SILVER: Valhalla Axe Throwing
BRONZE: Falconry Days
HIGHLY COMMENDED: La Chocolatrice
Large Hotel of the Year
GOLD: Rockliffe Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa
SILVER: Doxford Hall Hotel & Aqueous Spa
BRONZE: Newton Hall & Cabin Walk
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Alnwick Garden
BRONZE: Whitehouse Farm
SILVER: Beamish: The Living Museum of the North
GOLD: Bamburgh Castle
New Tourism Business Award
GOLD: Hillside Huts & Cabins
SILVER: The Greenhead Hotel
BRONZE: Overland Adventures
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Schoolhouse Fenwick
Pub of the Year
GOLD: The Apple Inn, Lucker
SILVER: The Greenhead Hotel
BRONZE: The Joiners Arms
Resilience and Innovation Award
GOLD: Langley Castle Hotel
SILVER: The Escape Key
BRONZE: Valhalla Axe Throwing
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Common Room
Self-Catering Accommodation Provider of the Year
GOLD: Kidlandlee
SILVER: Till Fishing Holidays
BRONZE: Vindomora Country Lodges
JOINT HIGHLY COMMENDED: Breamish Valley Cottages & Mains Cottages/Shepherd’s Retreats
Small Hotel of the Year
GOLD: Seaham Hall Hotel
SILVER: The Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland
BRONZE: The Lord Crewe, Bamburgh
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Langley Castle
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
GOLD: Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours
SILVER: Tees Barrage International White Water Centre & Air Trail
BRONZE: Newham Grange Farm
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Stephenson Steam Railway
Taste of North East England
GOLD – Teesdale Cheesemakers Ltd
SILVER – Seaham Hall Hotel
BRONZE – Dobson & Parnell
Unsung Hero Award
GOLD – Mohamed Kamal, Spanish City
SILVER – Caroline May, Seaham Hall Hotel
BRONZE – Nick Rodgers, Project Escape
JOINT HIGHLY COMMENDED – Samantha Brown, The County Restaurant and Sally Razack, Crowne Plaza Newcastle