Lancashire Tourism Award-Winners light up The Tower Ballroom

The best of Lancashire tourism and hospitality was recognised at the county’s annual showcase of the sector which took place at Blackpool’s famous Tower Ballroom last night.

 The 2024 Lancashire Tourism Awards saw honours handed out in 27 categories, raging from large and small attractions to accessible and inclusive tourism and best visitor experience.

 The glittering event was organised by Marketing Lancashire, the county’s LVEP (Local Visitor Economy Partnership) and hosted by BBC Radio Lancashire’s Mike Stevens.

 This year the awards incorporated the new Taste Lancashire Producer Awards.

 The annual awards, organised by Marketing Lancashire, the county’s LVEP (Local Visitor Economy Partnership) was a spectacular event; this year incorporating new Taste Lancashire Producer Awards, with Headline sponsor BOOTHS and category sponsor Blackpool & The Fylde College.

From Large Attraction to Small Attraction, Visitor Experience to Accessible & Inclusive Tourism, every aspect of Lancashire tourism and hospitality was celebrated in 27 categories. 

Two special awards included in the list were the Unsung Hero award, for an individual or group that makes a significant difference to the visitor experience, which was won by Andrew Reid from Secret Garden Glamping,  and the Hospitality and Tourism Student Award, sponsored by University of Central Lancashire, which rewards an outstanding student taking their first steps on the road to a career in the industry, this year awarded to James Ashworth from Blackburn College.

Vikki Harris, marketing and partnerships director of Marketing Lancashire, welcomed guests to the Tower Ballroom and spoke of the industry’s ability to transform lives, to provide career opportunities and to help build a sense of pride in Lancashire. 

Vikki said: “We are one of the most visited counties in England and I want us to stay that way. Lancashire has always been a great destination for domestic visitors, but we can’t rest on our laurels. 

"We want people to think that Lancashire is the place to go today, and when they get here we want them to have such a fabulous time, that they come here again and again. 

“At Marketing Lancashire we’re passionate about positioning Lancashire as a top visitor destination that truly rivals our neighbouring counties. Our vision is to continue to  transform people’s perceptions of Lancashire and in turn grow the visitor economy back to pre-pandemic levels. 

“Of course it is businesses like yours, the crème de la crème of Lancashire, that enable us to do this by continuing to provide exceptional and distinctive experiences for your guests.

“We look forward to working with you again over the coming year, and to seeing our sector continue to thrive.”

This year’s ceremony shone a spotlight on Lancashire’s exciting food and drink producers with four new awards.  Finalists in these awards, like the tourism awards, went through a rigorous judging process, including in-person presentations and tastings at BOOTHs HQ near Preston.

The first businesses to win a new Taste Lancashire Producers Award were: Lone Wolf Bakery in Lancaster for the Bakery, Pies and Pastries category; The Whitehall Hotel & Distillery gin and spirits in Darwen, in the Drinks Producer category; Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses in Preston in the Fish, Field and Dairy Produce Category; and Peppered Palette dessert hot sauces in Lancaster for the Pantry, Preserved and Ready to Eat category.

Most of the winners in Lancashire’s regional tourism awards now have the chance to progress to the national Visit England Awards for Excellence.  Just as their colleagues Secret Garden Glamping, La Locanda restaurant and Winter Garden’s Blackpool did last year, where they won Gold, Bronze and Bronze respectively.

The winners of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2024

Large Hotel            

Elgin Hotel, Blackpool                                  WINNER
Hampton by Hilton Blackburn
Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho 

Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park

Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Newsholme     WINNER
Samlesbury Hall
The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale
Wonderland Retreats, Carnforth

Accessible & Inclusive Tourism     

Blackpool Zoo                                                      WINNER
The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough

Small Event
Autumn Steam Gala at Ribble Steam Railway & Museum, Preston
Burnley Canal Festival
Chorley Flower Show
Lowther’s Folk, Roots & Maritime Festival, Lytham       WINNER     
Spot On Festival, Poulton-le-Fylde
The Dukes Park Show – Alice in Wonderland, Lancaster
Thornton Rocks, Thornton in Craven

Dog Friendly Business

Affinity Lancashire, Fleetwood
Samlesbury Hall
The Lawrence, Padiham
The Millstone, Mellor – part of Daniel Thwaites             WINNER

New Tourism Business      

Aven Restaurant, Preston
Eight at Gazegill by Doug Crampton, Rimington             WINNER
Everything Retreat, Mellor 
Offshore, St Annes
Showtown, Blackpool
The Britannia Tap & Grill, Oswaldtwistle
Wonderland Retreats, Carnforth

Business Events Venue             

Anderton Centre, Chorley                       WINNER
Samlesbury Hall
Stanley House Hotel & Spa, Mellor
Winter Gardens Blackpool

Experience of the year

Black Knights Parachute Centre, Cockerham
Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours              WINNER
The Woodland Spa, Burnley
Cultural Venue / Organisation
Lancaster Grand Theatre
Samlesbury Hall
The Dukes, Lancaster
The Lowther Pavilion Theatre & Gardens, Lytham
The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery, Rawtenstall            WINNER
Winter Gardens Blackpool

Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism   

Brickhouse Farm Cottages, Hambleton
The Three Fishes, Mitton
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough                   WINNER

Hospitality and Tourism Student                          

Abbie Schofield, Blackpool & The Fylde College.
Ethan Avis, Blackpool & The Fylde College.
James Ashworth, Blackburn College                         WINNER
Sophie Wilkinson, Blackburn College.
Lois Eccles, Burnley College.
Lucie Pearson, Burnley College.

Wedding Venue  

Samlesbury Hall 
The Glasshouse at Staining Lodge, Staining
West Tower Wedding Venue, Aughton                   WINNER

Hotel Wedding Venue  

Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho
Stanley House Hotel & Spa, Mellor                        WINNER
The Lawrence, Padiham
Weddings at Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green

Family Owned or Run Business

1842 & Ivory Tower
Dowsons Dairies, Clayton-Le-Dale
Foxfields Country Hotel, Billington
Harrison Holidays, Preston
Staining Lodge Golf Course, Staining                 WINNER

Large Event

Affinity Summer of Fun, Fleetwood
Blackpool Dance Festival                                     WINNER
Lytham 1940’s weekend
National Festival of Making, Blackburn
Santa Specials at East Lancashire Railway, Rawtenstall
The Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival, Colne

Lancashire Perfect Stay - Small Serviced Accommodation         

The Fossil Tree Hotel, Blackpool
The Lawrence, Padiham                                    WINNER
The Royal at Heysham – Part of Daniel Thwaites

Large Visitor Attraction 

Blackpool Zoo                                                      WINNER
East Lancashire Railway

Pub                                               

Farm Yard Brew Co, Cockerham
Haighton Manor
The Black Bull Old Langho                                WINNER
The Rum Fox, Grindleton

Small Visitor Attraction          

Lancashire Police Museum, Lancaster
Samlesbury Hall
Spitfire Visitor Centre, Blackpool                  WINNER

Self-Catering Accommodation

Brickhouse Farm Cottages, Hambleton
Everything Retreat, Mellor                             WINNER
Laythams Holiday Lets Retreat, Slaidburn
Oakdean Cottages, Langho
The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton

Taste Lancashire                                       

Artisan Ribble Valley, Billington
Aven Restaurant, Preston
Bertram’s Restaurant, Burnley               WINNER
The Three Fishes, Mitton

Unsung Hero Award 

Andrew Reid, The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale              WINNER
Beth Armistead, Elgin Hotel, Blackpool.
Daniel Atkinson, Blackpool Transport Services.
James Ainsworth, Mrs Dowsons Farm Park, Clayton-le-Dale.

The judges also wanted to reward one of the finalists that had impressed in their category, but had just been pipped to the post.  The Judges Commendation this year, went to the Lancashire Police Museum in Lancaster.

Sponsors of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2024 included:  BAE Systems, B&D Printing Services, Blackpool & The Fylde College, Conferences & Events at Burnley Football Club, Creative Technical Installations, Insight6, Lancashire Tea, Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) and LUMS Centre for Family Business, Harrison Drury Solicitors, Lancashire Business View, Lancashire Post, Lancashire Life, Lancashire Telegraph, Links Signs & Graphics, Musique, Northern Print Distribution, Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business, Total Foodservice, PM+M and University of Central Lancashire.

The Lancashire Tourism Awards team was pleased to work with and support Hospitality Action at the event.  This charity has helped and continues to offer vital assistance to all those who work or have worked in UK hospitality. A film showing their impact on former work colleagues across the industry was shown at the start of the evening and a collection made during the event.