Five tourism award winners head to national finals

Five Lancashire tourism award winners have been named as finalists in the prestigious Visit England Awards for Excellence, and go forward to the national finals which will be held at Lancashire County Cricket Club on May 20.

[caption id="attachment_22493" align="f-align-medium-right f-align-center" width="300"] Millstone at Mellor[/caption]

Lancashire’s 2013 finalists are: access for all tourism, Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool; caravan holiday park, Sunset Park, Hambleton; small hotel of the year, Northcote, Langho; taste of England Award, The Redwell Country Inn and Restaurant, Arkholme; tourism pub of the year,The Millstone at Mellor.

Ruth Connor, chief executive of Marketing Lancashire, said: “We know that Lancashire has some of the country’s finest pubs, attractions, accommodation, restaurants and customer service, so it is little surprise to see these five flagship businesses acknowledged in this way.

“Our whole-hearted support and best wishes now go with these five-star performers to the national Visit England Awards, where they will compete and represent Lancashire at the very highest level. We are incredibly proud of their achievement and all our Lancashire Tourism Award winners.”

Lancashire’s finalists will receive either a gold, silver, bronze or highly commended award.

Sandcastle Waterpark and Sunset Park were both finalists in last year’s national awards and both received highly commended.

In 2012 Lancashire’s also celebrated a gold win for The Ashton, Bed & Breakfast of the Year; gold win for Michael Gore of the Best Western Premier Leyland for customer service of the year; silver for Old Holly Farm, for small visitor attraction of the Year; bronze for Ribby Hall Village, business tourism award.

James Berresford, VisitEngland’s chief executive, said: “We received 320 applications and the quality of submissions was higher than ever.  It is therefore no small achievement for these five Lancashire businesses to become finalists and justifiably take credit and pride in earning a coveted place in the top five in their category in England."