THE new Lakes Distillery, Ullswater's iconic Sharrow Bay Hotel and Windermere Lake Cruises are among the finalists for the Cumbria Tourism Awards.

Judges have drawn up a shortlist in 17 categories. The winners will be revealed at a black-tie dinner and awards ceremony on June 22.

This is the awards' fourteenth year. They celebrate the range and diversity of Cumbria’s tourism industry and are open to hotels, B&Bs, holiday parks, pubs, visitor attractions, events, businesses and tourism staff.

Winners will be presented with a bespoke trophy made by the sculptural metalworker Chris Brammall, of Ulverston, and the majority will go forward to represent the county at the Visit England Awards for Excellence in 2017.

Ian Stephens, managing director of Cumbria Tourism, said: “It has been a fantastic year for entries with exceptional quality shown across all the categories.

“This has made it very difficult for the shortlisting panel to select the finalists and has resulted in an unprecedented number of businesses going forward as finalists.

“We appreciate that recent months have been a very difficult time for businesses but the overwhelming response to promote themselves and enter into the awards process shows once again the commitment and determination of tourism businesses in Cumbria and the immense pride in what they do.”

There is a new venue for the ceremony this year – Cartmel Racecourse near Grange over Sands. They have been held at the Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, for the past two years but Cumbria Tourism says the new venue can accommodate more guests.

There will be a three-course dinner celebrating Cumbrian produce.

The 2016 finalists are:

Large Hotel of the Year: North Lakes Hotel & Spa, Penrith; Castle Green Hotel, Kendal; Waterhead, Ambleside.

Small Hotel of the Year: Appleby Manor Hotel and Garden Spa, Appleby; The Leathes Head Hotel, Borrowdale; Sharrow Bay, Ullswater; Merewood Country House Hotel, Windermere.

Guest Accommodation of the Year: The Sun Inn, Kirkby Lonsdale; Augill Castle, South Stainmore; Askham Hall, Askham; Applegarth Villa and Restaurant, Windermere.

B&B of the Year: Whitrigg House, Clifton; Rivergarth, Eamont Bridge.

Self-Catering Holiday of the Year: Waternook Lakeside Accommodation, Howtown; Mill House Cottages, Kirkby Lonsdale; Hollybank Holiday Cottages, Gilcrux; Beech House Holidays, Dalston.

Holiday Park of the Year: Park Cliffe Camping and Caravan Estate, Windermere; Park Foot Caravan and Camping Park, Pooley Bridge; National Trust Great Langdale Campsite, Great Langdale.

Tourism Experience of the Year: Zeffirellis and Fellinis, Ambleside; Lakeland Segway, Cartmel; The Lakes Distillery, Bassenthwaite; Go Ape Grizedale, Grizedale Forest.

Tourism Event of the Year: Big Chill Swim International World Cup and World Open Water Swimming Awards; The Winter Droving; Muncaster Halloween Week; Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy at Ullswater Yacht Club.

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year: The Lake District Coast Aquarium, Maryport; Steam Yacht Gondola, Coniston; Lakeland Climbing Centre, Kendal.

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year: Wray Castle, National Trust; Grizedale Forest; Ullswater Steamers; Windermere Lake Cruises.

Taste Cumbria Dining Experience of the Year: The Lamplighter Dining Rooms, Windermere; The Forest Side, Grasmere; Bistro at the Lakes Distillery, Bassenthwaite; The Cottage in the Wood, Whinlatter Forest; George and Dragon, Clifton.

Taste Cumbria Retailer of the Year: Cranstons Cumbrian Food Hall, Penrith; Grasmere Gingerbread, Grasmere; Low Sizergh Barn, near Kendal.

Wedding Venue of the Year: Augill Castle, South Stainmore; The Daffodil Hotel and Spa, Grasmere; The Wild Boar Inn, Grill and Smokehouse, Windermere; Askham Hall, Askham.

Sustainable Tourism Award: Cedar Manor Hotel, Windermere; Rydal Hall, Rydal; Ullswater Steamers; FSC Blencathra Centre, Threlkeld.

The Sheila Hensman Award for Outstanding Contribution to Excellence: Hilary Hutchinson, Lakeland Chauffeurs, Windermere; Nico Chieze, Askham Hall, Askham; Tom Panter, Merewood Country House Hotel, Windermere.

Tourism Pub of the Year: The Wheatsheaf, Brigsteer; The Cuckoo Brow Inn, Far Sawrey; The Beer Hall at Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley.

New Tourism Business Award: Threlkeld Coffee Shop, Threlkeld; Casterton Footgolf, Casterton; Claife Viewing Station, National Trust, Claife.