The winners of the 2018 Cumbria Tourism Awards have been revealed.
More than 400 guests gathered at Cartmel Racecourse for the ceremony, hosted by Alan 'Deadly' Dedicoat, best known as the National Lottery's 'voice of the balls'.
Now in their 16th year, 63 finalists were selected in 18 categories, including Large Hotel of the Year, Tourism Event of the Year and Outstanding Customer Service, which this year, for the first time in the event's history, saw a three-way tie for the honour.
Lord Clark of Windermere was the 2018 recipient of the Bernard Gooch Tourism Personality of the Year Award.
Lord Clark led the bid for the Lake District’s successful bid to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been a high-profile figure championing Cumbria on the national and international stage over the past year.
A Cumbria Tourism spokesman said: "Since its status was given it has been fantastic to see how local people and businesses are working together to capitalise on this achievement and raise the profile of the Lake District, in indeed the county, around the world."
Gill Haigh, managing director of Cumbria Tourism, said: “Huge congratulations not only to our award winners, but to all the finalists.
"These were my first Cumbria Tourism Awards and I have been blown away by the strength and depth of our £2.9billion tourism industry, not to mention the sheer hard work and dedication shown by tourism businesses who deliver world class experiences to the county’s millions of visitors day in, day out.
"Following on from Cumbria’s second World Heritage designation for the Lake District, this truly is a year of celebration!”
All award winners received a trophy made by Kendal-based glass artist Jo Vincent and have the chance to put their business forward for the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2019.
Winners
Large Hotel of the Year: North Lakes Hotel & Spa, Penrith
Highly commended: Armathwaite Hall, Bassenthwaite
Small Hotel of the Year: Rothay Garden Hotel, Grasmere
Boutique Guest Accommodation of the Year:Lindeth Fell Country House, Windermere
Bed and Breakfast of the Year: Raise View, Grasmere
Self-Catering Holiday Provider of the Year: Iconic collection Whitbarrow Village, near Penrith
Self-Catering Holiday Property of the Year: Heart of the Lakes - Bristowe Hill, Keswick
Highly commended: Glen Bank, Brampton, near Appleby
Holiday Park of the Year: The Quiet Site, Ullswater
Visitor Attraction of the Year: Senhouse Roman Museum, Maryport
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year: Lowther Castle & Gardens
Tourism Pub of the Year: Dockray Hall, Penrith
Taste Cumbria: Merewood Country House Hotel, Windermere
Highly commended: The Castle Dairy, Kendal
Sustainable Tourism Award: Upfront Arts Venue, near Penrith
Highly commended: Cedar Manor Hotel & Restaurant, Windermere
Highly commended: Newlands Adventure Centre
Culture & Heritage Experience of the Year:
Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House, Bowness-on-Windermere
Adventure Experience of the Year: Cyclewise Whinlatter
Tourism Event of the Year: Westmorland County Show, Crooklands
Highly commended: Eden Arts - Winter Droving, Penrith
Wedding Venue of the Year: Broadoaks Country House, Windermere
New Tourism Business Award: Another Place, The Lake, Ullswater
The Sheila Hensman Award for Outstanding Customer Service: Rachel Dunckley, Hazelbank Country House Hotel, Borrowdale Valley. Victoria Blanco, Treetop Trek, Windermere. Christine Brown, Castle Green Hotel, Kendal.
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