2019 Enjoy Staffordshire Award Winners Announced

2019 ENJOY STAFFORDSHIRE AWARDS CELEBRATES COUNTY’S BEST TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES

Some of Staffordshire’s best tourism and food & drink businesses have been crowned at a glittering black-tie awards dinner.

Businesses from across the county were celebrating at the 2019 Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism & Good Food Awards, held at Aston Marina, Stone on Thursday 24^th October.

The winners of 17 categories, including Alton Towers Resort (Large Visitor Attraction of the Year), Stoke-on-Trent’s Gladstone Pottery Museum (Small Visitor Attraction of the Year), and Lichfield’s Swinfen Hall Hotel (Small Hotel of the Year), were announced by BBC Midlands Today’s Joanne Malin before an audience of more than 150 guests.

Stone’s No26 at Aston Marina was named Independent Restaurant of the Year, while The Three Horseshoes Country Inn, near Leek, won the Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year award, and Denstone Hall Café was the Tea Room & Coffee Shop of the Year.

The Borehole in Stone won the Pub of the Year award, while the Historic Narrowboat Experience at Middleport Pottery was successful in the Experience of the Year category.

The CBeebies Land Hotel at Alton Towers Resort was the Large Hotel of the Year, and The Little George in Eccleshall won the B&B and Guest House of the Year award.

Quarry Walk Park near Alton was the Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park of the Year, the Self-Catering Accommodation award went to Heywood Hall in Denstone, and the New Tourism Business of the Year was The Parlour at Greenacres, near Denstone.

Aspects at the National Memorial Arboretum was named the Business Events Venue of the Year, and Beechenhill Farm won the Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award, while the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable award went to Alton Towers Resort, their third gold of the evening.

There was also a special award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in Staffordshire presented to Ian Crabbe, Manager Director, Resort Theme Parks for Merlin Entertainments, in recognition of the decade he was Divisional Director at Alton Towers Resort.

Mark Winnington, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth at Staffordshire County Council and Deputy Chair of Destination Staffordshire, said: “A huge well done to our winners and finalists, and to all our amazing tourism providers who continue to do us proud in attracting thousands of visitors to the county each year.

“Tourism is an important sector for Staffordshire and I continue to be impressed with the quality and drive for perfection from our businesses.

“They play a vital role in our overall economy, bringing in around £1.8billion each year, and sustaining tens of thousands of jobs.

“Without the dedication and hard work of our tourism and hospitality businesses this wouldn’t be possible, so I would like to pass on my thanks to them all.”

The winners of 14 categories progress to represent Staffordshire at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, to be held in June 2020.

Category sponsors at the 2019 Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism & Good Food Awards were RH Advertising, the Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub, Staffordshire Business & Environment Network and the NFU Mutual’s Stone Agency.
 

WINNERS – 2019 ENJOY STAFFORDSHIRE TOURISM & GOOD FOOD AWARDS

Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award

Beechenhill Farm, Ilam – GOLD

Alton Towers Resort – SILVER

Drayton Manor Park – BRONZE

Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke-on-Trent – HIGHLY COMMENDED

B&B and Guest House of the Year

The Little George, Eccleshall – GOLD

Amber House, Alrewas – SILVER

Business Events Venue of the Year, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub

Aspects at the National Memorial Arboretum – GOLD

Keele University Events & Conferencing – SILVER

Uttoxeter Racecourse – BRONZE

Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park of the Year

Quarry Walk Park, near Alton – GOLD

Oakland Holiday Park, Brewood – SILVER

Pillaton Hall Farm Caravan and Campsite, Penkridge – BRONZE

Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award, sponsored by Staffordshire Business & Environment Network

Alton Towers Resort – GOLD

Beechenhill Farm, Ilam – SILVER

Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke-on-Trent – BRONZE

Nelson’s Distillery & School, near Uttoxeter – HIGHLY COMMENDED

Experience of the Year

The Historic Narrowboat Experience at Middleport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent – GOLD

Raku Workshop at Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke-on-Trent – SILVER

Animal Encounters, Peak Wildlife Park, near Leek – BRONZE

The Mill Wheel Spa, Three Horseshoes Country Inn & Spa, Leek – HIGHLY COMMENDED

Large Hotel of the Year

CBeebies Land Hotel at Alton Towers Resort – GOLD

Hilton at St George’s Park, Burton upon Trent – SILVER

BEST WESTERN PLUS Stoke-on-Trent Moat House Hotel – BRONZE   

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

Alton Towers Resort – GOLD

SnowDome, Tamworth – SILVER

Trentham Monkey Forest – BRONZE

Drayton Manor Park – HIGHLY COMMENDED

Waterworld, Stoke-on-Trent – HIGHLY COMMENDED

New Tourism Business of the Year

The Parlour at Greenacres, Denstone – GOLD

The Little George, Eccleshall – SILVER

Pub of the Year

The Borehole, Stone – GOLD

The Little George, Eccleshall – SILVER

The Lymestone Vaults, Newcastle-under-Lyme – BRONZE

The Meynell Ingram Arms, Hoar Cross – HIGHLY COMMENDED

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year

Heywood Hall, Denstone – GOLD

Beechenhill Farm, Ilam – SILVER

The Barn and The Parlour at Greenacres, Denstone – BRONZE

The Farmhouse at Gradbach Mill – HIGHLY COMMENDED

Small Hotel of the Year

Swinfen Hall Hotel, Lichfield – GOLD

Three Horseshoes Country Inn and Spa, Leek – SILVER

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by RH Advertising

Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke-on-Trent – GOLD

Dorothy Clive Garden, Willoughbridge near Newcastle-under-Lyme – SILVER

Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, Lichfield – BRONZE

Emma Bridgewater Factory, Stoke-on-Trent – HIGHLY COMMENDED

Independent Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by NFU Mutual Stone Agency

No26 at Aston Marina, Stone – GOLD

The Boat Inn, Lichfield – SILVER

Larder, Lichfield – BRONZE

The Four Seasons Restaurant, Swinfen Hall Hotel, Lichfield – HIGHLY COMMENDED

Darwin’s at the George, Lichfield – HIGHLY COMMENDED

Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by NFU Mutual Stone Agency

Three Horseshoes Country Inn, Leek – GOLD

Totally Delicious Restaurant, Trentham Shopping Village – SILVER

The Stafford Arms, Bagnall, Staffordshire Moorlands – BRONZE

Tea Room & Coffee Shop of the Year, sponsored by NFU Mutual Stone Agency

Denstone Hall Café – GOLD

Totally Delicious Italian Garden Tea Room, Trentham Gardens – SILVER

Cup a Cha Tea Room, Stafford – BRONZE

Ramblers Retreat Country Tea Room – HIGHLY COMMENDED

Farm Shop and Food & Drink Retailer of the Year, sponsored by NFU Mutual Stone Agency

Denstone Hall Farm Shop – GOLD

Canalside Farm, Great Haywood, Stafford – SILVER

Essington Farm, Essington, South Staffordshire – BRONZE  

Media enquiries should be directed to Richard Swancott on 01785 277986 or info@enjoystaffordshire.com.

ENDS