County’s tourism awards salute businesses winning the battle for customers
BUSINESSES across the county are celebrating after being recognised at the Leicestershire Tourism and Hospitality Awards 2019.
Restaurants and pubs, hotels and campsites, festivals and visitor attractions were among the winners
SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR Winner: Eye Kettleby Lakes, Eye Kettleby
Highly Commended: Brook Meadow, Sibbertoft
Commended: Foxton Locks Lodges, Foxton
CAMPING, GLAMPING AND HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR Winner: Eye Kettleby Lakes, Eye Kettleby
Highly Commended: Brook Meadow, Sibbertoft
Commended: Barford Top Campsite, Saddington
LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Winner: Best Western Premier Yew Lodge Hotel, Kegworth
SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Winner: Winstanley House, Leicester
BUSINESS EVENTS VENUE OF THE YEAR Winner: College Court announced in 30 categories at a ceremony at Athena, Leicester.
Judging involved reviewing each finalist’s original submission, online research and mystery shopping from an independent panel.
Now in its ninth year, the awards, organised by Leicestershire Promotions, are the regional heat of the national VisitEngland Awards for
Conference Centre and Hotel , Leicester Highly Commended: Bruntingthorpe Events
B&B/GUEST HOUSE OF THE YEAR Winner: Holywell House, Loughborough
Highly Commended: Marston Croft, Marston Trussell
BEST TEAM Winner: The White Peacock, Leicester
Highly Commended: College Conference Centre and Hotel, Leicester
Commended: James Cafe Bistro, Leicester, Alpaca Park Farm, Snarestone
INSPIRING MANAGER Winner: Esme Ditano, of The White Peacock , Leicester
RISING STAR Winner: Heather Jones, of The Forge, Glenfield
BEST FOOD AND DRINK
Excellence.
Of the winners, 10 will go forward as Leicestershire’s nominations for national awards.
One of the big winners on the night was the National Forest, recognised as this year’s Tourism Superstar for its remarkable work in transforming large swathes of scarred and damaged countryside
PRODUCER Winner: The Bee Farmer, Leicestershire
Highly Commended: Gelato Village, Leicester
ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD Winner: Timber Festival, Moira
NEW BUSINESS TOURISM AWARD Winner: National Forest Ebike Holidays, The National Forest
Highly Commended: The Tap & Run, Upper Broughton, Alpaca Park Farm, Snarestone
BEST FINE DINING EXPERIENCE Winner: The White Peacock, Leicester Highly Commended: Cini, Enderby
TASTE OF LEICESTERSHIRE Winner: John’s House, Mountsorrel
BEST LEICESTERSHIRE BREAKFAST Winner: The Cafe Next Door, Woodhouse Eaves Highly Commended: Alpaca Park Farm, Snarestone, Tithe Barn, Cosby
BEST CASUAL DINING EXPERIENCE Winner: The Tap & Run, Upper Broughton Highly Commended: Lighthouse, Kibworth Beauchamp, Winstanley House, Leicester Commended: Boboli, Kibworth Harcourt
BEST LOCAL FOOD/ FARM SHOP Winner: The Melton Cheeseboard, Melton Highly Commended: Manor Farm Shop, Catthorpe
BEST AFTERNOON TEA Winner: Winstanley House, Leicester
Highly Commended: The White Peacock , Leicester into a successful tourist destination.
Martin Peters, chief executive of Leicestershire Promotions, said: “The Leicestershire tourism and hospitality sectors are working through very challenging times and more effort is needed than ever before to win the hard-earned pound from our customers.
“Visitors are demanding
Commended: Alpaca Park Farm, Snarestone, The Cafe Next Door, Woodhouse Eaves, Quorn Grange, Quorn
PUB OF THE YEAR Winner: The Griffin Inn, Swithland
Highly Commended: The White Horse, Birstall Commended: The Forge, Glenfield, The Tap & Run, Upper Broughton
BEST COCKTAIL Winner: The Gadabout, Leicester
Highly Commended: The White Peacock, Leicester
BEST EVENT - PAID Winner: The Victory Show, Cosby
Highly Commended: Nevill Holt Opera
Commended: Dark Side of the Moon, National Space Centre, Leicester
BEST EVENT - FREE Winner: Mods: Shaping a Generation and ReVive Festival, Leicester Highly Commended: better and better value for money, and the key to delivering this is quality.
“These awards are testament to the quality of our tourism and hospitality businesses, and prove just how hard all of the winners, finalists, entrants and other organisations are working to raise their standards for customers, guests and visitors.”
Bring the Paint, Leicester, Charnwood 14-18, Loughborough Commended: Market Harborough Food and Drink Festival, Market Harborough, May The Toys Be With You, Leicester
LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION Winner: Twycross Zoo Highly Commended: National Space Centre, Leicester, Conkers, Moira
SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION Winner: Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, Sutton Cheney
Highly Commended: Wistow Maze, Wistow
Commended: Retro Computer Museum, Thurmaston
BEST NIGHT OUT Winner: Loughborough Town Hall
BEST INDEPENDENT RETAIL OUTLET
Winner: Farndon Fields Farm Shop, Market Harborough
Highly Commended: Ferrers Gallery, Staunton Harold
BEST SHOPPING DESTINATION Winner: Ferrers Centre for Arts and Crafts , Staunton Harold Commended: Ashby, Loughborough
BEST OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE Winner: Greenwood Days, Staunton Harold
Highly Commended: Haunted Heritage, Coalville
Commended: Avalanche Adventure, Sibbertoft
BEST ACTIVITY Winner: Ultimate Pie Making Experience, Brockleby’s Pies, Melton
TOURISM SUPERSTAR Winner: The trees of the National Forest