England’s Northwest Tourism Awards announce this year’s finalists

20th September 2010

The entries have been received, the judging has commenced and the excitement is building for the finalists at the seventh annual England’s Northwest Tourism Awards.

Organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), the 2010 England’s Northwest Tourism Awards will once again celebrate the best of the region’s tourism, providing a showcase for industry best-practice and top-quality tourism businesses in Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.

This year’s event will take place on Wednesday 29th September at The Point - Lancashire County Cricket Club's stunning new £12m conference and events centre.

Many of the finalists have already come out on top at their sub-regional tourism awards and will now be competing at a regional level for the title of the best in the Northwest.

In addition to receiving a prestigious title and trophy, regional winners will also have the opportunity to represent the Northwest in the national awards, organised by VisitEngland in 2011.

Last year, representatives from England’s Northwest won three awards at the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence – Blackpool Illuminations were awarded Event of the Year, Gilpin Lodge in Windermere can boast Small Hotel of the Year and Christina Dixon from Jurys Inn, Liverpool received the top accolade for Customer Service.

Felicity Goodey, Chair of Tourism England’s Northwest, said: “It is important we celebrate the enormous amount of progress Northwest tourism has made in the past decade. This is an industry which earns the Northwest more than £14 billion a year and provides hundreds of thousands of jobs. These awards are celebrating some of those responsible for this huge success story.

“Tourism continues to flourish and grow even in these challenging times. It’s a win, win for this region. Great destinations attract visitors but they also attract other inward investment and that means more wealth and more jobs. Great places also make areas more attractive places for our own people to live, which in turn helps the Northwest retain its talent.

“I would like to be the first to congratulate all of this year’s finalists, who have been able to demonstrate a quality visitor experience that sets the standards for others to follow.”

Nick Brooks-Sykes, Director of Tourism at the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) said: “Tourism is worth over £14 million to the regional economy, employing over 200,000 people. It continues to be a real good news story for England’s Northwest. Our regional Tourism Awards showcase a vast mix of tourism products and experiences, celebrating the best of the best, value for money, attention to detail and a quality visitor experience.”

England’s Northwest Tourism Awards finalists:

Large Hotel
Best Western Premier Leyland Hotel, Lancashire
Best Western Premier Queen Hotel, Cheshire
The Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Manchester
Armathwaite Hall Country House Hotel and Spa, Cumbria
Hope Street Hotel, Merseyside

Small Hotel
The Midland Hotel, Lancashire
The Alexandra Court Hotel and Restaurant, Cheshire
Overwater Hall, Cumbria
Velvet Hotel, Manchester

Bed & Breakfast
Number One, South Beach, Lancashire
Harrop Fold Farm, Cheshire
Cherry Clough Farmhouse Accommodation, Manchester
Number 43, Cumbria
Knowsley Hall, Merseyside

Large Visitor Attraction
Blackpool Zoo, Lancashire
Tatton Park, Cheshire
Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester
The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, Bowness on Windermere Cumbria
The Beatles Story, Merseyside

Small Visitor Attraction
Clitheroe Castle and Museum, Lancashire
Chester Heritage Tours, Cheshire
Stockport Airraid Shelters, Manchester
The Lake District Coast Aquarium, Cumbria
Acorn Farm, Merseyside

Self Catering
The Old Shippon at Mellor, Lancashire
The Courtyard Helsby, Cheshire
The Atrium by Bridgestreet Worldwide, Manchester
Tottergill Farm Cottages, Cumbria
Herons Well, Merseyside

Holiday Park
Newton Hall Holiday Centre, Lancashire
Skelwith Fold Caravan Park, Cumbria
Woodclose Park, Cumbria
Manor Wood Country Caravan Park, Cheshire

Business Tourism
Stanley House Hotel, Lancashire
Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, Cheshire
Manchester Central Convention Complex, Manchester
North Lakes Hotel, Cumbria
Conference Centre at LACE, Merseyside

Taste of England's Northwest
The Highwayman, Lancashire
1539 Restaurant and Bar, Cheshire
The River Bar and Restaurant at the Lowry Hotel, Manchester
The Cottage in the Wood, Cumbria
60 Hope Street, Merseyside

Tourism Experience
Go Ape! Rivington, Lancashire
Shark Dives at Blue Planet Aquarium, Cheshire
Angels of Anarchy - Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester
Cumbrian Heavy Horses, Cumbria
Liverpool ONE, Merseyside

Customer Service
Sandcastle Waterpark Team, Lancashire
The Alvanley Arms Inn, Cheshire
Roland Hoffman - The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
Alan Gillon - The Beacon, Whitehaven, Cumbria
Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa, Merseyside

Sustainable Tourism Award
Clough Bottom Farm Cottages, Lancashire
Chester Zoo, Cheshire
Manchester International Festival, Manchester
Elder Grove, Cumbria
Jurys Inn Liverpool, Merseyside

Tourism for All
Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Lancashire
Anderton Boat Lift, Cheshire
Chill Factore, Manchester
The Beacon, Whitehaven, Cumbria

Tourism Event
1940s Wartime Weekend, East Lancashire Railway, Lancashire
Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cheshire
Manchester International Festival, Manchester
Great North Swim, Cumbria
A Winter's Trail, Merseyside

Public Space Award
Workington Town Centre, Cumbria
Lime Street Gateway, Merseyside
Towneley Heritage Parkland Restoration, Lancashire
Dream, Merseyside
Chester Renaissance, Cheshire

Tourist Information Centre
Morecambe Visitor Information Centre, Lancashire
Preston Tourist Information Centre, Lancashire
Rochdale Tourist Information Centre, Manchester
Liverpool John Lennon Airport Information Desk, Merseyside
Kendal Tourist Information Centre, Cumbria
Appleby Tourist Information Centre, Cumbria

ENDS