EMBARGOED UNTIL 22.00 ON 23 APRIL 2008
The best places to stay and visit in England were announced at a glittering ceremony in Liverpool last night. Organised by VisitBritain and sponsored by The Caravan Club, The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence are the annual tourism ‘Oscars’ for English holidays and this year’s winners include a sixteenth century restaurant with rooms in Devon, Europe’s largest free airshow in Sunderland, an environmentally sustainable villa and restaurant in Norfolk and a children’s attraction and story centre in Buckinghamshire.
The full list of winners is available on www.enjoyengland.com. Hugh Taylor, VisitEngland chairman said: “The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence highlight the rising quality and diversity of holiday experiences on offer in England. From foodie gems and unique attractions to magnificent hotels and sustainable B&B’s, England is an exciting world-class tourism destination, in which to discover something new. We are proud to honour the people behind those outstanding tourism businesses who play a vital role in encouraging visitors to holiday in England.”
Director General of The Caravan Club, Trevor Watson said: “We’re delighted to witness how fast standards in English tourism are rising. As a major player, we know that quality counts and are proud to sponsor these awards, which reward the cream of English tourism.I congratulate each and every winner for their fantastic achievementand all the hard work that this accolade represents.”
The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2008 Gold winners are:
The Bed and Breakfast of the Year winner isThe Salty Monk in Sidmouth – a sixteenth century restaurant with rooms, that derives its name from its history as a salt house used by Benedictine Monks. Set in the beautiful Devonshire countryside, The Salty Monk offers five individually furnished rooms and contemporary English cuisine, which prides itself on using only the freshest ingredients supplied from the West Country where possible. Diners will be seated in the light and airy dining room overlooking the award-winning gardens. The judges commented: The Salty Monk “represents a new breed of English B&B offering all-round excellent cuisine and very high quality accommodation”. (www.thesaltymonk.co.uk;01395 513174)
Two finalists – Strattons Hotel and Restaurant in Norfolk and The Cottage Lodge in Brockenhurst, New Forest – received a ‘Gold Award’ in the new Sustainable Tourism Award of the Year category.Located a minute’s walk from the historic market town of Swaffham, Strattons Hotel is a classical, elegant Queen Anne villa, with an award-winning restaurant offering fresh, locally-produced seasonal food. The luxurious boutique hotel has been quietly working to reduce its impact on the environment since its opening in 1990 notably by monitoring water consumption, recording waste streams and using organic produce wherever possible. Despite significant increases in occupancy, the total waste produced has dropped steadily from just under 10 tonnes five years ago to under 5 tonnes today – a particularly great achievement for a small hotel. (www.strattons-hotel.co.uk; 01760 723 845) The Cottage Lodge is an AA five-star beamed 17th Century Forester’s Cottage and B&B set in the New Forest National Park, which cares passionately about its impact and strives to reduce its waste, pollution, carbon and environmental impact. All breakfast ingredients are supplied from the Forest and Fair Trade products are used where no local product is available; rooms are cleaned with environmentally-friendly products and the owners encourage wildlife into the garden. The lodge also works creatively to educate guests during their stay and offers tea and cakes to anyone arriving by train. (www.cottagehotel.org; 01590 622 296)
TheSmallHotel of the Yearwinner isThe Devonshire Arms, a country house hotel and spa set on the Bolton Abbey Estate in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. Originally a coaching inn dating back over 350 years, the Devonshire Arms is surrounded by open parkland stretching down to the River Wharfe and has evolved over the centuries becoming a stylish place to stay. The hotel has undergone an impressive redecoration programme to its rooms and suites as well as refurbishments to its health spa, restaurant and bar. Awards judges commented that the hotel displayed: “outstanding hospitality and personal service which continues to exceed guests’ expectations”. (www.thedevonshirearms.co.uk;01756 710441)
This year’sCaravan Holiday Park of the Yearwinner is Poston Mill Park - a five-star holiday home development in Golden Valley, Hereford. Set in 33 acres of glorious countryside alongside the beautiful River Dore, Poston Mill offers an ideal location to escape and enjoy the natural English farmland. There is also a large array of leisure activities for the whole family including fishing,a fun 9 hole pitch and putt, a 9 hole putting area, croquet lawn, badminton, pétanque, football pitch, a grass tennis court, and a small children's play area. (www.bestparks.co.uk; 01981 550 225)
This year’s Taste of England Award was won by Fifteen Cornwall located in Watergate Bay. Opened in 2006, the restaurant offersan innovative menu of the best seasonal and local produce, talented chefs and spectacular views over a beautiful two-mile beach. Fifteen Cornwall was commended for its huge contribution to the local and regional economy by making full use of the abundance of high quality local food producers in the region and providing disadvantaged young people the opportunity to become trainee-chefs. All profits from Fifteen Cornwall go to the registered charity - The Cornwall Foundation of Promise. (www.fifteencornwall.co.uk; 01637 861 000)
The Roald Dahl Museum in Buckinghamshireis the winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the Year(fewer than 100,000 visitors per year). The Roald Dahl Museum was established in 2001 with the aim of setting up a centre to tell Roald Dahl’s life story, to care for his archive and to promote a love of creative writing in everyone. The great little family-friendly museum features an interactive story centre and two fun, fact-packed biographical galleries to spark the imaginations of 6 to 12 year olds and their families. In particular, the museum was praised for its free story-telling sessions motivating and inspiring young children to examine their own creative potential. (www.roalddahlmuseum.org; 01494 892192)
Chewton Glen is the winner of theLarge Hotel of the Year. Located on the edge of the New Forest National Park in Hampshire, Chewton Glen is a five-star country house hotel and spa priding itself on its heritage.All bedrooms and suites have been individually designed and decorated to provide the ultimate in luxury and comfort with unique antique furnishings and contemporary textiles. The hotel is also committed to the environment – in addition to introducing energy saving measures, The Marryat Restaurant offers a variety of dishes made from fresh, local produce.The judges commented that: “Chewton Glendisplaysexcellence at every level with an amazing attention to detail and its commitment to sustainability shows the way forward for large hotels”. (www.chewtonglen.co.uk;01425 275341)
Two finalists were presented with ‘Gold’ awards in the Self-Catering Holiday of the Year –The Mill Granary in Lower Teesdale, Co. Durham and Stone Cottage in The Lake District. Situated in peaceful, wide-open countryside with spectacular views, The Mill Granary offers two luxurious, converted stone built granary cottages, with one sleeping up to ten people plus cots. Both properties have been tastefully restored retaining many original features whilst incorporating the best modern facilities. (www.millgranary.co.uk; 01325 730339). Stone Cottage is a boutique five-star cottage located at the heart of some of the best walking country in the Lake District National Park in the tiny hamlet of Deepdale, near Ullswater. An extensive refurbishment programme has uncovered many original features creating a chic cottage, which feels at home in its glorious Lakeland setting. Stone Cottage sleeps six plus cot, and special extras can be arranged on request including a private chef service. (www.lakeandstonecottage.co.uk;017684 82647) Awards judges praised the dedicated owners for their hard work in maintaining such an exceptionally high quality product.
The second of two new categories is the BestTourism Experience Award, which recognises both ongoing and one-off events. This year’s winner is the Sunderland International Airshow, the largest free airshow in Europe, which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year.Awards judges applauded the organisers for achieving over one million visitors in 2007 including a very high number of repeat numbers. With high-speed jets, breathtaking national and international display teams including jet fighters, helicopters and aerobatic teams, and a massive choice of activities on the ground, the show provides an action-packed weekend for all the family. (www.sunderland-airshow.com;0191553 2006)
Both the Imperial War Museum Duxford and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, were awarded ‘Gold’ awards for the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category (more than 100,000 visitors per year). Once a working airfield in the First and Second World Wars, The Imperial War Museum Duxford offers an authentic and exciting show to visits. A good combination of enthusiastic volunteers alongside museum staff also offer great technical detail. The attraction boasts an enormous events programme and a newextensive interactive gallery with an outstanding collection of aircraft as part of the £25 million Airspace exhibition. (www.duxford.iwm.org.uk;01223 835 000)From its beginnings as a building housing a small collection of objects bought by the government from the Great Exhibition of 1851, the Victoria and Albert Museum has grown into a world-class attraction. The V&A offers advanced interpretation services and has also created greater onsite access to the museum collection database making it accessible to a wide range of visitors.(www.vam.ac.uk;020 7942 2000)
TheBusiness Tourism Awardwas won by The Emirates Stadium in London, whichhas rapidly established itself as one of the most spectacular and successful sports stadium in the world since its opening in 2006. In addition to its regular Arsenal home fixtures, the venue has hosted over 1,000 events for businesses from around the capital and Europe, and is striving to becomea London landmark that businesses and individuals can enjoy on non-match days too.The majestic arena boasts an array of bright, modern and versatile conference and banqueting suites, all with impressive views of the pitch, teamed with leading edge AV infrastructure, excellent transport links and a dedicated, experienced events team.(www.arsenal.com;0845 262 0004)
TheOutstanding Customer ServiceAwardwas won by David Pollard, founder ofthe Falmouth Pride Ambassadors voluntary organisation. Davididentified that there was an issue providing the welcome to cruise ship passengers when they docked at the very busy port of Falmouth and volunteered himself to do this service whilst also enlisting the support and assistance of 30–40 more volunteers including foreign language speakers. The friendly welcome and information that passengers receive when they visit the port and the town has resulted in a large number of passengers returning to Cornwall as independent tourists. Such is the growing reputation of the organisation that the model is now being adopted in France, Australia and the US. Awards judges commented that : “improving tourism to a location on a purely voluntary basis is an outstanding achievement – David Pollard is a beacon of customer excellence”.(www.swtourism.co.uk;01392 360050)
This year’s Tourist Information Centre of the Year (TIC) winner isLiverpool 08 Place.Established as a venue to showcase Liverpool 08, the TIC promotes the Capital of Culture experience and has welcomed almost half a million visitors – an average of over 16,000 people each month - since it opened its doors in 2005. The centre is a one-stop culture shop and the first port-of-call for people wanting to find out more about the city, keeping them up-to-date and engaging them with the celebrations. A highly experienced team of multi-lingual staff offer a full range of information and advice services, while the latest in multi-media technology provides access to a range of interactive tools – including up-to-the-minute events listings. (www.visitliverpool.com;0151 233 2459)
The Tourism Website of the Year winner iswww.liverpoolphil.com, the website for the Royal Liverpool Philarmonic. The multi-functional site was re-launched in October 2006to make it easier to find out about events through improved information architecture, and is aimed at a wide audience from tourists to regular visitors. Customers can now see the concert view from their seat, listen to and watch audio and video clips, receive live help as well as purchase memberships, CDs and digital downloads on the site. Innovative marketing tactics have helped to drive more visitors to the site and since its launch, online sales have nearly doubled and now account for 34% of all ticket sales.(www.liverpoolphil.com;020 7449 6241)
The Journalist of the Year is Nigel Richardson for his pieceentitled ‘Rockin’ all over England’in The Daily Telegraph bringing to lifethe colourful history of rock ‘n’ roll in Englandfrom its very beginnings in a pub in Liverpool where the Beatles started out.
Finally, the winner of the consumer voted Travelmail award for The Best Day Out, is Whitby, North Yorkshire. Launched this year, this category attracted thousands of votes from Travelmail readers who voted in their droves for Whitby - We love Whitby - a walk on the beach (whatever the weather) across to Sandsend - maybe with a game of beach cricket and a donkey ride for the kids, not to mention a quick paddle in the sea; a climb up the steps to the Abbey, browsing in the shops as we go. Lunch is fish and chips, the freshest you'll get anywhere. There's always room for an ice cream of course, and if we're feeling lively, then a walk on the moors on the way home is in order (or a trip on the north Yorks moors railway is fun!)
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
For images of the ‘Gold’ and ‘Silver’ winners please visitwww.digitalrailroad.net/jepsonuk- sign in with the member name ‘EnjoyEngland1’ andpassword ‘send12ME’. Please note these are both case-sensitive.
· The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2008celebrate the best of English tourism. Now in their 19th year, the Awards are known throughout the industry as the ‘Oscars’ of tourism. They promote healthy industry competition and high standards, helping to ensure England's place as a world-class destination.
· There are sixteen different categories, from visitor attractions and hotels to self-catering accommodation and caravan parks. Entries are submitted to the regional tourism partners and then short-listed to the national finals, culminating in the Awards ceremony in April. In addition, there is the national Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award.
· The shortlisted finalists are listed in alphabetical order below
· Previously the England Marketing Advisory Board, VisitEngland is legally the English Tourist Board, whose marketing activities are implemented by VisitBritain’s England marketing division through its Enjoy England and Meet England campaigns.
· VisitBritain is responsible for promoting Britain as a world-class tourist destination and for developing England's visitor economy through Enjoy England campaigns and initiatives.
· UKresidents took 101 million trips, spending £16.2 billion in England in 2006.Since its launch in 2003, Enjoy England has been responsible for £450m of incremental spend on short breaks in England. In addition to national TV advertising campaigns to inspire British visitors to share their secrets of England, the current portfolio of campaigns focuses on city breaks, outdoor activities, food and drink and indulgent escapes. Enjoy England also markets England in France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands.
· An archive of media releases and more details about the work of VisitBritain promoting England as a destination can be found on the new online press centre, www.enjoyengland.com/presscentre
· The Caravan Club– As Europe’s premier touring organisation, The Caravan Club represents the interests of one million caravanners, motor caravanners and trailer tenters.The Club operates the largest privately owned network of quality sites in the UK, together with a further 2,500 Certificated Locations (sites that take a maximum of five outfits). For more information visit The Club's award-winning website at www.caravanclub.co.uk. For more press information please contact The Caravan Club Press Office on 01342 336664 or 01342 336768, or email press@caravanclub.co.uk
· VisitBritain’s nine Regional Tourism Partners are:East of England Tourism, East Midlands Tourism, Advantage West Midlands, Visit London, One NorthEast, Northwest Regional Development Agency, Tourism South East, South West Tourism, Yorkshire Tourist Board.
For further press information contact:
Lucy Pennington/Peggy Amarteifio, bgb communications: 020 7902 2990, lpennington@bgb.co.uk / pamarteifio@bgb.co.uk . Patricia Yates, VisitBritain: 020 8563 3262/ patricia.yates@visitbritain.org
