Lancashire Tourism Award-Winners Light Up The Tower Ballroom
The best of Lancashire tourism and hospitality was on show at the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2024, held in the world famous Tower Ballroom, on Tuesday 11 February, with support from Destination Sponsor, VisitBlackpool and hosted by BBC Radio Lancashire’s Mike Stevens.
The annual awards, organised by Marketing Lancashire, the county’s LVEP (Local Visitor Economy Partnership) was a spectacular event; this year incorporating new Taste Lancashire Producer Awards, with Headline Sponsor BOOTHS and category sponsor Blackpool & The Fylde College.
From Large Attraction to Small Attraction, Visitor Experience to Accessible & Inclusive Tourism, every aspect of Lancashire tourism and hospitality was celebrated in 27 categories.
Two special awards included in the list were the Unsung Hero award, for an individual or group that makes a significant difference to the visitor experience, which was won by Andrew Reid from Secret Garden Glamping, and the Hospitality and Tourism Student Award, sponsored by University of Central Lancashire, which rewards an outstanding student taking their first steps on the road to a career in the industry, this year awarded to James Ashworth from Blackburn College.
Vikki Harris, Marketing and Partnerships Director of Marketing Lancashire, welcomed guests to the Tower Ballroom and spoke of the industry’s ability to transform lives, to provide career opportunities and to help build a sense of pride in Lancashire.
Vikki said “We are one of the most visited counties in England and I want us to stay that way. Lancashire has always been a great destination for domestic visitors, but we can’t rest on our laurels. We want people to think that Lancashire is the place to go today, and when they get here we want them to have such a fabulous time, that they come here again and again.
“At Marketing Lancashire we’re passionate about positioning Lancashire as a top visitor destination that truly rivals our neighbouring counties. Our vision is to continue to transform people’s perceptions of Lancashire and in turn grow the visitor economy back to pre-pandemic levels.
“Of course it is businesses like yours, the crème de la crème of Lancashire, that enable us to do this by continuing to provide exceptional and distinctive experiences for your guests.
“We look forward to working with you again over the coming year, and to seeing our sector continue to thrive.”
This year’s ceremony shone a spotlight on Lancashire’s exciting food and drink producers with four new awards. Finalists in these awards, like the tourism awards, went through a rigorous judging process, including in-person presentations and tastings at BOOTHs HQ near Preston.
The first businesses to win a new Taste Lancashire Producers Award were: Lone Wolf Bakery in Lancaster for the Bakery, Pies and Pastries category; The Whitehall Hotel & Distillery gin and spirits in Darwen, in the Drinks Producer category; Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses in Preston in the Fish, Field and Dairy Produce Category; and Peppered Palette dessert hot sauces in Lancaster for the Pantry, Preserved and Ready to Eat category.
Most of the winners in Lancashire’s regional tourism awards now have the chance to progress to the national Visit England Awards for Excellence. Just as their colleagues Secret Garden Glamping, La Locanda restaurant and Winter Garden’s Blackpool did last year, where they won Gold, Bronze and Bronze respectively.
The winners of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2024
Large Hotel*
Elgin Hotel, Blackpool WINNER
Hampton by Hilton Blackburn
Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho
Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park*
Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Newsholme WINNER
Samlesbury Hall
The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale
Wonderland Retreats, Carnforth
Accessible & Inclusive Tourism*
Blackpool Zoo WINNER
The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough
Small Event
Autumn Steam Gala at Ribble Steam Railway & Museum, Preston
Burnley Canal Festival
Chorley Flower Show
Lowther’s Folk, Roots & Maritime Festival, Lytham WINNER
Spot On Festival, Poulton-le-Fylde
The Dukes Park Show – Alice in Wonderland, Lancaster
Thornton Rocks, Thornton in Craven
Dog Friendly Business
Affinity Lancashire, Fleetwood
Samlesbury Hall
The Lawrence, Padiham
The Millstone, Mellor – part of Daniel Thwaites WINNER
New Tourism Business*
Aven Restaurant, Preston
Eight at Gazegill by Doug Crampton, Rimington WINNER
Everything Retreat, Mellor
Offshore, St Annes
Showtown, Blackpool
The Britannia Tap & Grill, Oswaldtwistle
Wonderland Retreats, Carnforth
Business Events Venue*
Anderton Centre, Chorley WINNER
Samlesbury Hall
Stanley House Hotel & Spa, Mellor
Winter Gardens Blackpool
Experience of the year*
Black Knights Parachute Centre, Cockerham
Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours WINNER
The Woodland Spa, Burnley
Cultural Venue / Organisation
Lancaster Grand Theatre
Samlesbury Hall
The Dukes, Lancaster
The Lowther Pavilion Theatre & Gardens, Lytham
The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery, Rawtenstall WINNER
Winter Gardens Blackpool
Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism*
Brickhouse Farm Cottages, Hambleton
The Three Fishes, Mitton
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough WINNER
Hospitality and Tourism Student
Abbie Schofield, Blackpool & The Fylde College.
Ethan Avis, Blackpool & The Fylde College.
James Ashworth, Blackburn College WINNER
Sophie Wilkinson, Blackburn College.
Lois Eccles, Burnley College.
Lucie Pearson, Burnley College.
Wedding Venue
Samlesbury Hall
The Glasshouse at Staining Lodge, Staining
West Tower Wedding Venue, Aughton WINNER
Hotel Wedding Venue
Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho
Stanley House Hotel & Spa, Mellor WINNER
The Lawrence, Padiham
Weddings at Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green
Family Owned or Run Business
1842 & Ivory Tower
Dowsons Dairies, Clayton-Le-Dale
Foxfields Country Hotel, Billington
Harrison Holidays, Preston
Staining Lodge Golf Course, Staining WINNER
Large Event
Affinity Summer of Fun, Fleetwood
Blackpool Dance Festival WINNER
Lytham 1940’s weekend
National Festival of Making, Blackburn
Santa Specials at East Lancashire Railway, Rawtenstall
The Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival, Colne
Lancashire Perfect Stay – Small Serviced Accommodation*
The Fossil Tree Hotel, Blackpool
The Lawrence, Padiham WINNER
The Royal at Heysham – Part of Daniel Thwaites
Large Visitor Attraction *
Blackpool Zoo WINNER
East Lancashire Railway
Pub*
Farm Yard Brew Co, Cockerham
Haighton Manor
The Black Bull Old Langho WINNER
The Rum Fox, Grindleton
Small Visitor Attraction *
Lancashire Police Museum, Lancaster
Samlesbury Hall
Spitfire Visitor Centre, Blackpool WINNER
Self-Catering Accommodation*
Brickhouse Farm Cottages, Hambleton
Everything Retreat, Mellor WINNER
Laythams Holiday Lets Retreat, Slaidburn
Oakdean Cottages, Langho
The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton
Taste Lancashire*
Artisan Ribble Valley, Billington
Aven Restaurant, Preston
Bertram’s Restaurant, Burnley WINNER
The Three Fishes, Mitton
Unsung Hero Award *
Andrew Reid, The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale WINNER
Beth Armistead, Elgin Hotel, Blackpool.
Daniel Atkinson, Blackpool Transport Services.
James Ainsworth, Mrs Dowsons Farm Park, Clayton-le-Dale.
* The winners of these categories will have the opportunity to represent Lancashire in the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025 competition – subject to meeting criteria.
The judges also wanted to reward one of the finalists that had impressed in their category, but had just been pipped to the post. The Judges Commendation this year, went to the Lancashire Police Museum in Lancaster.
Sponsors of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2024 included: BAE Systems, B&D Printing Services, Blackpool & The Fylde College, Conferences & Events at Burnley Football Club, Creative Technical Installations, Insight6, Lancashire Tea, Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) and LUMS Centre for Family Business, Harrison Drury Solicitors, Lancashire Business View, Lancashire Post, Lancashire Life, Lancashire Telegraph, Links Signs & Graphics, Musique, Northern Print Distribution, Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business, Total Foodservice, PM+M and University of Central Lancashire.
The Lancashire Tourism Awards team was pleased to work with and support Hospitality Action at the event. This charity has helped and continues to offer vital assistance to all those who work or have worked in UK hospitality. A film showing their impact on former work colleagues across the industry was shown at the start of the evening and a collection made during the event.