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.