Lancashire Tourism Awards 2014 finalists announced

Marketing Lancashire has revealed the finalists of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2014.

Ruth Connor, chief executive of Marketing Lancashire, said: “We are extremely impressed with the quality and quantity of applications this year. We have seen significant investment in this sector over the past twelve months with over 1000 new jobs being created. The industry continues to grow with visitor numbers increasing by 1 million to 63 million and visitor spend contributing £3.5 billion to the Lancashire economy.

Winners in certain categories (marked *) will go forward to represent Lancashire at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2015.

2014 Lancashire Tourism Awards Finalists

Small Hotel Award*Briardene Hotel, Thonton Cleveleys Hipping Hall, Kirkby Lonsdale The Millstone Hotel, Mellor Northcote, Langho Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn The Villa Country House Hotel, Wrea Green

Self-Catering Holiday Provider Award*The Berkeley Apartments, Blackpool Burbage Holiday Group, Blackpool Canal Boat Cruises, Hoghton Crookhall Farm, Nr Ormskirk Wolfen Mill Country Retreats, Chipping

Wedding Venue AwardAshton Hall, Lancaster Browsholme Hall and Tithe Barn, Clitheroe The Wedding Chapel, Blackpool Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping The Great Hall at Mains, Poulton-le-Fylde The Midland, Morecambe Mitton Hall, Nr Whalley The Villa Country House Hotel, Wrea Green

Tourism Pub Award*The Assheton Arms, Clitheroe The Cartford Inn, Little Eccleston Freemasons at Wiswell The Sparrowhawk, Fence The Three Fishes, Mitton

Tourism Event of the Year Award*120th Anniversary at Blackpool Tower Blackpool Switch-on Festival Weekend Clitheroe Food Festival The Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival, Colne Harris Flights, Preston Lancaster Music Festival Light up Lancaster Lytham Proms Lytham 1940s Wartime Festival Ride the Lights, Blackpool Tram Sunday, Fleetwood Vintage by the Sea, Morecambe

Large Visitor Attraction Award*Blackpool Zoo Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough Blackpool Pleasure Beach Brockholes, Preston East Lancashire Railway

Sustainable Tourism Award*Browsholme Hall, Clitheroe Holiday Inn Lancaster Lancaster House Hotel Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough

Best Visitor Experience of the Year Award*Atlas Sailing, Fleetwood Bay Sea School, Morecambe Blackpool Ghost Walks Canoe and Boat Safari at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough St Annes Beach Huts World War One events at Lancashire Museums

New Business AwardBreck Apartments, Poulton-le-Fylde Brickhouse Farm Cottages, Hambleton Farmers Arms, Great Eccleston The Fenwick, Lancaster Ireby Green Farm, Preston Samlesbury Hotel, Preston Stanley Villa Farm Camping, Preston