Hotels in line to win top awards

The Bondgate Boutique, Alnwick; The Northumberland Arms, Felton; Craster Tower Penthouse Apartment, Craster; and PoSHHuts, at Falstone, near to Kielder Water, are short-listed finalists in the 2016 eviivo awards.

The Bondgate Boutique and Northumberland Arms are in contention to win the Hidden Gems and A Star Among Stars Awards category. This honours properties which excel in all areas, with a great overall business and leaving their guests with great stories to tell.

Craster Tower and PoSHHuts are in the running to take the Quirkiest Place to Stay award, which recognises the unique and individual character of the property and the experiences available to guests.

The four venues, which have made the shortlist after being whittled down from ‘an overwhelming amount of entries’, will find out if they have won during a glitzy ceremony at Shakespeare’s Globe, in London, on Tuesday, October 18.

All the winners will receive an award, as well as free PR regionally and nationally from a major PR agency to promote their hotel.

The Bondgate Boutique is a Grade II-listed building on Bondgate Without. The 4 Star Gold Award accommodation has seven quality en-suite bedrooms, with luxury fixtures and fittings throughout.

Owners Leo Watson and Charlotte Hurley, who took over the premises in 2014, said: “We are delighted to have made this stage of the competition.

“We have put in a lot of hard work over the last two years and our main focus has always been to provide value-for-money, quality accommodation. ”

The Northumberland Arms offers a bar and restaurant service, as well as having six deluxe en-suite rooms. It was built in the 1820s by Hugh Percy 3rd Duke of Northumberland as a coaching inn and has been fully renovated to a high standard.

Area manager Richard Pattison said: “I’m over the moon to hear that we have been selected as one of the finalists and I hope we win. For us, it’s all about the customer and making sure they have the best possible experience, but it’s wonderful to know that we’ve been recognised for all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes each day.

“I’d like to thank the team for making it possible and fingers crossed they get the result they deserve.”

Fiona and John Craster have been running Craster Tower Penthouse Apartment since 2007. Standing for more than 800 years, guests can enjoy the delights and comforts of this historic building, which featured on Channel 4’s Homes By The Sea show in 2014.

The couple said: “We’re over the moon to hear that our guesthouse has been selected as one of the finalists and we’re really hoping we win.

“For us, it’s all about the customer and making sure they have the best possible experience, but it’s wonderful to know that we’ve been recognised for all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes each day.”

PoSHHuts is run by Simon and Nickey Forster. The quirky venture takes the basic principles of the traditional shepherd’s hut, but revamped to offer glamour and luxury.