Gold for Laverock Law Cottages at tourism awards

Harvest and Dave Harris-Jones were presented the sustainable tourism prize at the ceremony in Bath on Monday.

Harvest said: “Dave and I are absolutely delighted to win the sustainable tourism award which recognises all the hard work of our whole family, to create a very special sustainable holiday destination. We were so proud to represent Northumberland on the national stage.”

Visit England judge Neil Warren had this to say about Laverock Law Cottages: “It was a pleasure to visit you and see all that you are doing particularly your passion and commitment shown in the meticulous attention for detail that you are showing in every aspect of making your business have the best possible impact.”

Seafield Caravan Park in Seahouses won silver in the holiday park of the year.

The prestigious awards, now in their 29th year, recognise, congratulate and celebrate businesses and individuals who raise the bar of England’s tourism offer.

VisitEngland chief executive Sally Balcombe said: “These awards shine a spotlight on our fantastic tourism industry with the winners showcasing the quality, innovation and excellence on offer throughout the country. These winners provide outstanding and truly memorable visitor experiences.”

In addition to the winners across 18 categories, there were three special awards: Outstanding Contribution to Tourism awarded to Historic Royal Palaces, Tourism Superstar winner Jim O’Reilly following a public vote and Travel Article of the Year awarded to journalist Richard Mellor.

Historic Royal Palaces received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in recognition of the powerful draw the royal palaces have on domestic and international visitors. VisitEngland’s Annual Attraction Survey found that in 2016 there was a seven percent increase in the number of visitors to historic houses and castles compared to the previous year.

The Tourism Superstar competition, run with the Daily Mirror, was this year won by Jim O’Reilly, a customer service adviser with Red Funnel Ferries. Nigel Thompson, the Daily Mirror’s Travel Editor, presented the accolade.

Richard Mellor is the winner of the Travel Article of the Year 2018 award for his piece in The Guardian titled Party in the Sea – Between the Isles of Scilly. This citation recognises the important contribution of the media in shaping domestic tourism.

Latest VisitEngland statistics show that in 2017 Brits took more than 47 million holidays in England, up six percent on the previous year. Brits spent more than £11 billion on domestic staycations in 2017, also up six percent on 2016.

Tourism in England contributes £106 billion to the economy.

Below are the winners in each category for this year’s awards:

Bed & Breakfast of the Year

GOLD - Alkham Court Farmhouse, Kent

https://www.alkhamcourt.co.uk

SILVER - The 25 Boutique B&B, Devon

https://www.the25.uk

BRONZE - South Lodge Boutique B&B, Buckinghamshire

http://southlodgebandb.co.uk

Boutique Guest Accommodation of the Year

GOLD - Yorebridge House, Yorkshire

http://www.yorebridgehouse.co.uk

SILVER - Hever Castle & Gardens, Kent

https://www.hevercastle.co.uk/stay

BRONZE - Cary Arms & Spa “Inn on the Beach”, Devon

https://www.caryarms.co.uk

Business Tourism Award

GOLD - Sage Gateshead, Tyne & Wear

http://www.sagegateshead.com

SILVER - Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa, Cheshire

https://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/rookeryhall/business

BRONZE - Tewkesbury Park, Gloucestershire

https://www.tewkesburypark.co.uk/meetings.html

Dog Friendly Business of the Year

GOLD - Wallops Wood Cottages, Hampshire

https://www.wallopswoodcottages.co.uk/dogs.html

SILVER - Bulleigh Barton Manor, Devon

http://www.bulleighbartonmanor.co.uk/dogs.html

BRONZE - Salad Days Beach Hut, Somerset

http://www.dunsterbeachhut.com/dogs-at-salad-days

Guided Tour of the Year

GOLD - York’s Chocolate Story, Yorkshire

https://www.yorkschocolatestory.com

SILVER - World of Wedgwood, Staffordshire

https://www.worldofwedgwood.com

BRONZE - Cotswolds Distillery, Warwickshire

https://www.cotswoldsdistillery.com

Holiday Park / Holiday Village of the Year

GOLD - Landal Gwel an Mor, Cornwall

https://www.gwelanmor.com

SILVER - Seafield Caravan Park, Northumberland

https://www.seafieldpark.co.uk

BRONZE - Polmanter Touring Park, Cornwall

https://www.polmanter.com

Hotel of the Year

GOLD - Rudding Park, Yorkshire

https://www.ruddingpark.co.uk

SILVER - Lucknam Park, Wiltshire

https://www.lucknampark.co.uk

BRONZE - Seaham Hall, County Durham

https://www.seaham-hall.co.uk

Inbound Tourism Award

GOLD - Beiwei 55°, London and Tyne & Wear

http://beiwei55.co.uk

SILVER - The Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath & North East Somerset

https://www.romanbaths.co.uk

BRONZE - The Grand Hotel & Spa, Yorkshire

https://www.thegrandyork.co.uk

Inclusive Tourism Award

GOLD - The Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath & North East Somerset

https://www.romanbaths.co.uk

SILVER - Mylor Sailing & Powerboat School, Cornwall

https://mylorsailingschool.co.uk

BRONZE - Cottage in the Dales, Yorkshire

http://www.cottageinthedales.co.uk

Innovation in Tourism Award

GOLD - British Airways i360, East Sussex

http://britishairwaysi360.com

SILVER - Go North East, Tyne & Wear

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk

BRONZE - English Lake District China Forum, Cumbria

http://www.englishlakes.com.cn

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

GOLD - National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire

http://www.thenma.org.uk

SILVER - Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire

https://www.blenheimpalace.com

BRONZE - Moors Valley Country Park and Forest, Dorset

https://www.moors-valley.co.uk

New Tourism Business Award

GOLD – Stasher, London

https://stasher.com

SILVER - Ascent Trampoline Park, Lancashire

http://www.ascenttrampolinepark.co.uk

BRONZE - Loose Reins, Dorset

https://www.loosereins.co.uk

Self Catering Holiday Provider of the Year

GOLD - Sheepyard Barn at The Suffolk Escape, Suffolk

http://www.suffolkescape.co.uk/barnescapes/sheepyard-barn

SILVER - The Milkshed, Devon

https://www.themilkshed-devon.com

BRONZE - The Treehouse Hotel at Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, Kent

https://www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne/short-breaks/treehouse-hotel

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year

GOLD - the Charterhouse, London

http://www.thecharterhouse.org

SILVER - Hall Hill Farm, County Durham

http://www.hallhillfarm.co.uk

BRONZE - Screech Owl Sanctuary & Wildlife Park, Cornwall

https://screechowlsanctuary.co.uk

Sustainable Tourism Award

GOLD - Laverock Law Cottages, Northumberland

http://laverocklawcottages.co.uk

SILVER - Browsholme Hall, Lancashire

https://browsholme.com

BRONZE - Colton House, Staffordshire

http://coltonhouse.com

Taste of England Award

GOLD - Restaurant Hywel Jones by Lucknam Park, Wiltshire

https://www.lucknampark.co.uk/dining/restaurant-hywel-jones-by-lucknam-park

SILVER - Miller’s Fish and Chips, Yorkshire

http://www.millersfish.co.uk

BRONZE - Askham Hall, Cumbria

https://www.askhamhall.co.uk

Tourism Pub of the Year

GOLD - The Riverside at Aymestrey, Herefordshire

http://www.riversideaymestrey.co.uk

SILVER - The Cartford Inn, Lancashire

http://www.thecartfordinn.co.uk

BRONZE - The Bruce Arms West Tanfield, Yorkshire

http://www.thebrucearms.com

Visitor Information Provider of the Year

GOLD - York Visitor Information Centre, Yorkshire

https://www.visityork.org/general-and-tourist-info/visitor-information-centre

SILVER - Oxford Visitor Information Centre, Oxfordshire

https://www.experienceoxfordshire.org/venue/information-ticket-sales-oxford-visitor-information-centre

BRONZE - Liverpool Tourist Information Centre, Merseyside

https://www.visitliverpool.com/plan-your-visit/visitor-centres

Tourism Superstar

Jim O’Reilly, Red Funnel Ferries, Isle of Wight

https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/en/

Travel Article of the Year

Richard Mellor, The Guardian

Party in the Sea - Between the Isles of Scilly

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/jun/12/low-tide-event-sandbank-party-isles-of-scilly-tresco-bryher

Outstanding Contribution to Tourism

Historic Royal Palaces

https://www.hrp.org.uk