Celebrating Northumberland's top places to live, work and play

Businesses from cafes to fine dining and children's recreational venues to top visitor attractions from across Northumberland were honoured at the WOW247 Awards 2016 last night.
The winners of the WOW247 AwardsThe winners of the WOW247 Awards
The winners of the WOW247 Awards

Held at Newton Hall the awards, organised by Johnston Press North East, publishers of the Berwick Advertiser, Northumberland Gazette, Morpeth Herald and News Post Leader were held in conjunction with partner sponsors Banks Group, Northumberland County Council and Newton Hall alongside category sponsors BT and UK Asbestos Specialists.

In total 12 awards were given to very deserving winners in recognition of their hard work and determination.

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A panel of judges made up of representatives of the partner sponsors and Johnston Press North East’s commercial director Dawn Owens judged the scores of nominations made to each of the categories.

The night’s compere, John Parker, Master of Ceremonies at Newton Hall said: “The high standard of entries made it extremely difficult for the panel of judges to reach decisions on the shortlists, but after much deliberation they have selected some outstanding winners."

Val Tyler, Cabinet member for Community Infrastructure and Culture at Northumberland County Council, who presented two awards on the night summed up he event by saying: “What an absolutely fantastic evening. Everybody here, whether they have won or not is a winner in their own right.

“To come as far as you have to get here tonight is a very special achievement and something which you should be proud of.

“You all deserve to be here whether you have won or not.”

THE WINNERS

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The Running Fox Cafe and Bakery at Felton took the Coolest Cafe of the Year Award, sponsored by UK Asbestos Specialists with The Drift at Cresswell and Bertram's at Warkworth runners-up.

The Visitor Attraction of the Year went to Alnwick Castle, sponsored by Banks Group, with Bamburgh Castle and Hay Farm Heavy Horse Centre as the runners-up.

The Tankerville Arms at Eglingham took the Traditional Northumberland Pub accolade, sponsored by Newton Hall, with the Keel Row at Seaton Delaval and The John Bull at Alnwick also on the shortlist.

The winners of the B&B/Guest House of the Year Award went to Forest View Inn at Byrness, near Otterburn, sponsored by BT, with St Cuthbert's House at Seahouses and Hay Farm House at Ford runners-up.

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The Dirty Bottles in Alnwick took the Best Bar Award, sponsored by the Northumbeland Gazette, with Doc's Bar in Alnwick and Foxton's Wine Bar in Berwick as runners-up.

Newton Hall took to Hotel of the Year accolade, sponsored by Northumberland County Council, with Slaley Hall and The White Swan at Alnwick runners-up.

Breamish Valley Cottages won the Best Self Catering/Holiday Park of the Year Award, sponsored by UK Asbestos Specialists, with Ancroft Manor and Harwood Health Spa also on the shortlist.

The Children’s Recreation Facility/Venue of the Year Award, sponsored by Banks Group, went to Whitehouse Farm Centre, with Buffalo Young People's Project and Seahouses Community Cinema as runners-up.

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The Fine Dining Award went to the Old Boat House at Amble, sponsored by Newton Hall, with Battlesteads at Wark and Nadon Thai at Morpeth runners-up.

Limoncello at Berwick won the Causal Dining Award, sponsored by BT, with The Castle Hotel and Audela at Berwick shortlisted.

The Best Newcomer Award went to Bertram's at Warkworth, sponsored by the News Post Leader, with The Apple Core at Lucker and The Oddfellows Arms at Alnwick runners-up.

And the last award of the night, the Best Wedding Venue award, sponsored by Northumberland County Council went to Woodhill Hall with Healey Barn and Eshott Hall runners-up.

See this week's paper for a full round-up of the awards with all the pictures from the event.