It was a fantastic night for Northumberland businesses at the 2018 North East England Tourism Awards held last night in a glittering event at Newcastle Civic Centre.
In her welcome speech at the event, Chief Executive of NewcastleGateshead Initiative Sarah Stewart said this year’s awards had “the highest number of entries ever received” with 145 entries from 126 businesses. From there, 57 businesses were shortlisted across 15 awards categories showcasing the wide variety of quality tourism businesses across County Durham, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.
Northumberland businesses were shortlisted in twelve out of the fifteen categories. From that, they gained a staggering nine Gold awards, along with a further eight Silver, ten Bronze and seven Highly Commended awards.
It was a particularly successful night for The Lord Crewe Arms at Blanchland who scooped gold awards in both Dog Friendly Business and Boutique Guest Accommodation of the Year as well as Silver in Tourism Pub of the Year and Bronze in Taste of England.
Having won Gold in the Bed and Breakfast of the Year Category in 2017, St Cuthbert’s House Bed & Breakfast in Seahouses were once again crowned gold award winners. It was also two years in a row for Laverock Law Cottages and Shepherds Hut who won the gold Sustainable Tourism Award.
Competition is high in all categories with exceptional standards in the tourism industry across the North East and Self-Catering Holiday Provider of the Year is no exception to this. Winners for 2018 were St Oswald’s Farm who won after less than one year of trading. Owner Lorraine Reay ‘We are delighted to have won this prestigious award which tops off a brilliant first year for us in the tourism industry.’
Jude Leitch, Director of Northumberland commented ‘Tourism is extremely valuable in Northumberland bringing in over £900 million in 2017 and is the second most important employment sector in the county. These outstanding statistics would not be possible without the exceptional standards offered by the numerous tourism businesses throughout the county. It is fantastic to see so many Northumberland businesses being recognised at these esteemed awards.’
The full list of Northumbrian winners:
B&B of the Year
St Cuthbert’s House - Gold
Layside Bed & Breakfast - Bronze
Budle Hall – Highly Commended
Boutique Guest Accommodation of the Year
Lord Crewe Arms – Gold
William De Percy – Silver
Barrasford Arms - Bronze
Dog Friendly Business
Lord Crewe Arms - Gold
Mains Cottages - Silver
South Tynedale Railway - Bronze
The Lindisfarne Inn – Highly Commended
Guided Tour of the Year
Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours - Gold
Lundgren Tours Ltd - Silver
Chillingham Wild Cattle Association – Highly Commended
Hotel of the Year
Langley Castle Hotel - Gold
Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa - Bronze
Inclusive Tourism
The Commissioners Quay Inn - Bronze
The Hog’s Head Inn – Highly Commended
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
The Alnwick Garden - Gold
Whitehouse Farm Centre - Bronze
Alnwick Castle – Highly Commended
Self Catering Holiday Provider of the Year
St Oswald’s Farm – Gold
Woodside Lodge - Silver
Mains Cottages - Bronze
Brown Rigg Lodges and Guest Rooms – Highly Commended
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
South Tynedale Railway - Silver
The Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre – Highly Commended
Sustainable Tourism
Laverock Law Cottages and Shepherds Hut - Gold
St Cuthbert’s House - Silver
Taste of England Award
The Potted Lobster - Silver
Lord Crewe Arms - Bronze
Tourism Pub of the Year
Barrasford Arms - Gold
Lord Crewe Arms - Silver
The Twice Brewed - Bronze
The Lindisfarne Inn - Bronze