VisitEngland reveals finalists of 2015 Awards for Excellence

The shortlist of companies operating in England, from B&Bs to large hotels and pubs to visitor attractions was drawn up by judges who sifted through hundreds of entries to find the cream of England's tourism businesses.

Winners of each of the 17 categories will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Sage Gateshead conference centre on 11 May with each finalist guaranteed a Gold, Silver, Bronze or Highly Commended in the category. 

VisitEngland chief executive James Berresford said: “I would like to congratulate all those nominated as VisitEngland Awards for Excellence finalists this year.  We receive hundreds of applications each year of an extremely high standard, so it is a fantastic achievement for any tourism business to become a finalist.  Each finalist is already a winner and can take justifiable pride and credit in earning a coveted place in the top five in their category in England, and in the contribution they make to an industry worth £106 billion to the economy, supporting 2.6 million jobs." ​

2015 Finalists:​ ​

Tourism Event of the Year​ ​

• Bournemouth Air Festival 2014, Bournemouth
• The Cotswold Show, Cirencester
• Mallar 75, National Railway Museum, York                                                       
• Northumbrian Water – Kielder Winter Wonderland, Hexham
• Vintage by the Sea - The Midland, Morecambe                                     

Self-Catering Holiday Provider of the Year​ 

• Bosinver Farm Cottages, St Austell
• The Dandelion Hideaway, Market Bosworth
• The Dovecote Barns York, York
• High Barn Cottages, Bridlington
• Millbrook Cottages, High Bickington 

Visitor Information Provider of the Year​ ​

• Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre
• City of London Information Centre
• Durham Visitor Information Network
• Simply Staffordshire       
• The Welcome People, London                                         

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year​

• Chatsworth, Bakewell
• Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Telford
• Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool
• The Lost Gardens of Heligan, St Austell
• The Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath

Small Hotel of the Year​

• Brockencote Hall Hotel, Kidderminster
• Cedar Manor Hotel & Restaurant, Windermere
• Hell Bay Hotel, Isles of Scilly                                                        
• The Horn of Plenty, Tavistock
• Mallory Court, Royal Leamington Spa 
• The Talbot Hotel, Malton                                         

Business Tourism Award​

• Barnett Hill, Guildford
• Event Durham, Durham University
• National Space Centre, Leicester
• The University of Manchester Conferences and Venues
• Woodland Grange Conference Centre, Leamington Spa

Taste of England Award​

• Delifonseca Dockside, Liverpool
• Hotel Maiyango, Leicester
• The Parkers Arms, Newton in Bowland  
• Stokes Tea & Coffee, Lincoln 
• Yorebridge House, Leyburn                                                  

Holiday Park/Holiday Village of the Year​

• Cofton Country Holidays, Dawlish
• Poston Mill Park, Hereford
• Seafield Caravan Park, Seahouses
• Searles Leisure Resort in Hunstanton
• Trethem Mill Touring Park, Truro                                                         

Tourism Pub of the Year​

• The Exchange, Leicester
• Freemasons at Wiswell, Clitheroe
• The Pandora Inn, Falmouth
• Wild Boar Inn Grill & Smokehouse, Near Windermere
• The Wro Bar, Lounge & Loft, West Kirby

Tourism Experience of the Year​

• The Cycle Hub, Newcastle upon Tyne
• Farm Stay UK Ltd, Kenilworth
• Livingstone Lodge Overnight Safari Experience, Port Lympne Reserve
• St Annes Beach Huts, Lytham
• Treetop Trek Ltd, Windermere                                                  

Bed & Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year​

• Colton House, Rugeley
• Lower Barns Boutique B&B, St Austell
• Mere Brook House, Wirral
• The Old Rectory of St James, Telford
• Swan House, Hastings

 Small Visitor Attraction of the Year​

•  ​Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke on Trent
• Owl & Monkey Haven, Newport
• Stott Park Bobbin Mill, Ulverston
• Topsail Charters Ltd, Maldon
• The World of James Herriot, Thirsk                                            

Large Hotel of the Year​

• Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa, New Milton
• Ellenborough Park, Cheltenham
• The Manor House Hotel, Moreton-on-the-Marsh
• Matfen Hall Hotel, Newcastle upon Tyne             
• Peckforton Castle, Tarporley 

Sustainable Tourism Award​ ​

• At Bristol Science Centre, Briston
• Colton House, Rugeley
• The Green House Hotel, Bournemouth
• St Cuthbert’s House, Seahouses
• Wheatland Farm Eco Lodges, Winkleigh

Access for All Tourism Award​

• The Bristol Hippodrome, Bristol
• Eureka! The National Children’s Museum, Halifax
• Kernock Cottages, Saltash
• Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool