Lancashire Tourism Awards 2015 winners revealed

On Thursday 5 November, The Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens Blackpool was a stunning venue for Marketing Lancashire’s annual Lancashire Tourism Awards.

The 600-strong audience celebrated Lancashire’s tourism excellence and the £3.6bn contribution that the industry makes to the Lancashire economy. It was hosted by Preston-born, TV journalist Ranvir Singh.

In her opening speech Ruth Connor, chief executive of Marketing Lancashire, said: “Tourism is big business in Lancashire. Importantly growth is being delivered with over 63 million visitors annually, a £3.6bn spend and over 56,000 jobs being supported by the visitor economy.

“The aim is to grow the tourism sector in Lancashire to 70 million visitors by 2020, increase spend in the economy by ¾ billion pounds and deliver an additional 5000 jobs.”

The evening’s final award was for Tourism Superstar, with the winner decided by an online public vote with the award acknowledging an individual who has gone the ‘extra mile’ to enhance the visitor experience or has been an extraordinary ambassador for Lancashire tourism. This year’s winner was none other than BBC Radio Lancashire’s John Gillmore. Gilly has spent 30 years on Lancashire’s airwaves championing the county.

B&B/GUEST ACCOMMODATION AWARD*The Bromley, Blackpool The Kings, BlackpoolThe Millstone at Mellor - WINNERNo 1 Crow Wood, Burnley

SMALL HOTEL AWARD*Bartle Hall Hotel, Preston The Shireburn Arms, ClitheroeThe Villa Country House Hotel, Wrea Green - WINNER

SELF-CATERING HOLIDAY AWARD*Breck Apartments, Poulton Le FyldeBrickhouse Farm Holiday Cottages, Hambleton - WINNERQueens Mansions, Burbage Holiday Lodge, Blackpool Wolfen Mill Country Retreats, Chipping

WEDDING VENUE AWARDBartle Hall Hotel, Preston Barton Grange Hotel, Preston Browsholme Hall and Tithe Barn, Clitheroe The Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Preston The Midland, Morecambe Mitton Hall, WhalleyThe Villa Country House Hotel, Wrea Green - WINNERWest Tower Exclusive Venue, Ormskirk

TOURISM PUB AWARD*Assheton Arms, ClitheroeThe Cartford Inn, Little Eccleston - WINNEREagle and Child, RamsbottomThe Sparrowhawk, Burnley

TOURISM EVENT AWARD*Blackpool Dance Festival Chorley Flower Show Countryside Comes to Town, Blackburn The Dukes Park Show, Lancaster Fleetwood Festival of Transport Lancashire Science Festival, Preston Lancaster Music Festival The Lightpool Project, Blackpool Light Up Lancaster Lytham 1940s Wartime Festival 2015Lytham Festival - WINNERTour of Britain Stage Two, Clitheroe to Colne

LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION AWARD*Blackpool Zoo, Blackpool - WINNERBrockholes Nature Reserve, Preston Farmer Ted’s Farm Park, Ormskirk Oswaldtwistle Mills Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD*Best Western Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, BlackburnBrowsholme Hall, Clitheroe - WINNERMrs Dowsons, Clayton-le-Dale

LUXURY EXPERIENCE AWARDBreck Apartments, Poulton Le FyldeLady Teal, Burnley - WINNERThe Woodland Spa, Burnley

CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARDBarton Grange Hotel, Preston - WINNERBest Western Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Blackburn Go Ape Rivington Lancaster and Morecambe Visitor Information Centres Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool VisitBlackpool Tourist Information Centre Visit Garstang Centre

BEST FOR GROUPS AWARDClifton Park Hotel, Lytham St Annes Impact Blackpool Leighton Hall, CarnforthOswaldtwistle Mills - WINNER*Winners in these award categories will have the opportunity to go forward to represent Lancashire at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2016.