Businesses across the North East were revealed as winners of this year’s North East England Tourism Awards at a virtual event today (Thursday 23 April 2020). The quality and diversity of the tourism industry were celebrated as the region comes together to support the industry in these challenging times.
During the online event, judges for each category outlined the strengths of the winning applications. At a difficult time for the industry, businesses from across the region were celebrated for their amazing contribution to the North East tourism offer.
Sage Gateshead and Falconry Days were both double winners, with Maldron Hotel Newcastle taking home the New Tourism Business Award – one of three new categories introduced for the 2020 awards alongside Experience of the Year and the International Tourism Award.
The full list of Gold winners:
- Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award – Sage Gateshead
- B&B and Guest House of the Year – St Cuthbert’s House
- Business Events Venue of the Year – Sage Gateshead
- Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year – Seafield Caravan Park
- Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award – South Tynedale Railway
- Experience of the Year – CBK’s Adventure Co.
- Large Hotel of the Year – Matfen Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa
- Small Hotel of the Year – Seaham Hall
- International Tourism Award – Falconry Days
- New Tourism Business Award – Maldron Hotel Newcastle
- Pub of the Year – The Apple Inn
- Self-Catering Accommodation Provider of the Year – St Oswald’s Farm
- Taste of North East England Award – Dobson & Parnell
- Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
- Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Falconry Days
Sarah Green, Chief Executive at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, who organise the awards, said: “A huge congratulations to this year’s winners and all those who continue to contribute so much to the North East tourism sector. Covid-19 is having a devastating impact on the sector but these awards demonstrate the quality of the North East tourism offer and give us confidence that once the current situation eases the region will be in a strong place to benefit from a predicted upturn in domestic and day tourism.
“Along with our colleagues in tourism organisations across the North East, we will continue to invest in marketing, with a strong digital and media presence, to ensure that tourists are aware of our fantastic region and have us front of mind when planning for future visits.”
The North East England Tourism Awards were once again sponsored by Newcastle College and Bidfood.
The format of the awards was tweaked this year so that they now align more closely with the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence and reflect innovations across the industry. Eligible winners of the North East England Tourism Awards will be automatically put forward to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2020.
Each of the shortlisted businesses went through a thorough judging process, focused on experiencing their offer first-hand. As well as being evaluated by a judging panel made up of industry experts, planned visits by judges or ‘mystery shoppers’ helped to inform the final decisions.
NewcastleGateshead Initiative has worked alongside Northern Tourism Alliance members and other partners to deliver the awards in 2020. 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 North East England Tourism Awards are supported by Northumberland Tourism, Northumberland County Council, Visit County Durham, South Tyneside Council and North Tyneside Council.
Ends
Full list of winners:
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
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, Golf 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 – Mains Cottages
Bronze – Brunton House and Cottages
Highly commended – Vindomora Country Lodges
Taste of North East England Award
Gold – Dobson & 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 Fort