Tourism Award Winners Announced At Glittering Event

The crème-de-la-crème of Staffordshire tourism and hospitality have been crowned at this year’s Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism and Good Food Awards.

Businesses from across the county gathered at Aspects at National Memorial Arboretum, near Lichfield, for the glittering black-tie event, hosted by BBC Midlands Today’s Rebecca Wood.

An audience of more than 300 guests saw the winners of 20 categories announced, including Alton Towers Resort (Large Visitor Attraction of the Year), The Brampton Museum (Small Visitor Attraction of the Year), and The Flintlock at Cheddleton (Independent Restaurant of the Year).

Hoar Cross Hall was named Hotel of the Year, while The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone, was Pub of the Year, and the World of Wedgwood Tea Room won the Tea Room/Coffee Shop of the Year award.

The Experience of the Year went to Nelson’s Distillery & School, for their Gin Still Experience, while New Business of the Year was The Play Barn @ Round Meadows Farm, near Leek, and Canalside Farm Shop, near Stafford, was the Food & Drink Retailer/Farm Shop of the Year.

B&B and Guest House of the Year was Eagle House Eccleshall, and the Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year award went to Weston Park Holiday Cottages, on the Staffordshire-Shropshire border.

And there were wins for Alton Towers Resort’s Mick Thomas in the Unsung Hero category, Keele University Events & Conferencing (Business Events Venue of the Year) and National Memorial Arboretum, which was successful in the Accessible & Inclusive Tourism and the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism categories.

Forestry England’s Forestry Recreation Team at Cannock Chase Forest won the Team of the Year award, and Paige Burnham from Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent was named the Rising Star.

There was also a special award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in Staffordshire presented to The Evans Family, owners of Denstone Hall Café & Farm Shop, near Uttoxeter, in recognition of their unwavering commitment to protecting the environment and supporting local food & drink producers.

Philip White, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for tourism at Staffordshire County Council, said: “This is our tenth awards now and once again it’s fantastic to be able to celebrate our amazing tourism sector.

“We’re attraction central, the biggest and best playground in the country and I’m incredibly proud of our tourism offer and everyone working in the sector.  I would like to say a huge congratulations to all our winners and those highly commended and a big thanks to the National Memorial Arboretum for hosting the event.

“Tourism continues to boom here in Staffordshire, generating  an estimated £2.3 billion for the local economy and employing thousands of people.  This is due to the hard work and determination of our hospitality businesses to provide excellent and memorable visitor experiences. 

“Once again a huge well done to the sector and good luck to our winners who now go forward to the national VisitEngland awards.”

The winners of 16 categories progress to represent Staffordshire at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, to be held in June 2024.

Category sponsors at the 2024 Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism & Good Food Awards were Staffordshire University, Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, We Are Staffordshire, Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group, Stoke-on-Trent College, RH Advertising, Service Science, Foster for Staffordshire, Pear OOH, and Stephensons Catering Supplies.

Full details of all winners can be found at https://www.enjoystaffordshire.com/visitor-information/award-winners

WINNERS - 2024 ENJOY STAFFORDSHIRE TOURISM & GOOD FOOD AWARDS:

Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award, sponsored by We Are Staffordshire

National Memorial Arboretum – GOLD

Alton Towers Resort – SILVER

The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – BRONZE

B&B and Guest House of the Year

Eagle House, Eccleshall – GOLD

The Black Lion Inn, Butterton – SILVER

St John’s House, Lichfield – BRONZE

Business Events Venue of the Year

Keele University Events & Conferencing – GOLD

Aston Marina, Stone – SILVER

The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – BRONZE

Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year

Duck Goose, Leek – GOLD

Thyme Kitchen, Lichfield – SILVER

The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer – BRONZE

Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award, sponsored by Staffordshire University

National Memorial Arboretum – GOLD

Alton Towers Resort – SILVER

Hoar Cross Hall – Joint BRONZE

Eagle House, Eccleshall – Joint BRONZE

The Trentham Estate – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED

The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED

Experience of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire University

Gin Still Experience, Nelson’s Distillery & School – GOLD

Throw A Pot Experience, Love Clay, Stoke-on-Trent – SILVER

Alpaca Trekking, Wetley Moor Alpacas, near Leek – BRONZE

Photography Workshop, Chappers Photography, near Abbots Bromley – HIGHLY COMMENDED

Food & Drink Retailer or Farm Shop of the Year

Canalside Farm Shop, near Stafford – GOLD

Denstone Hall Farm Shop, near Uttoxeter – SILVER

The Titanic Brewery Shop, Stoke-on-Trent – BRONZE

Independent Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Stephensons Catering Supplies

The Flintlock at Cheddleton – GOLD

FEASTED, Stoke-on-Trent – Joint SILVER

The Granary Restaurant at Weston Park – Joint SILVER

Hoar Cross Hall – Joint BRONZE

Little Seeds, Stone – Joint BRONZE

Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent – HIGHLY COMMENDED

Large Hotel of the Year, sponsored by Service Science

Hoar Cross Hall – GOLD

Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent – SILVER

CBeebies Land Hotel, Alton Towers Resort – Joint BRONZE

Drayton Manor Hotel, Drayton Manor Resort – Joint BRONZE

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by Pear OOH

Alton Towers Resort – GOLD

National Memorial Arboretum – SILVER

The Trentham Estate – Joint BRONZE

World of Wedgwood – Joint BRONZE

Drayton Manor Resort – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED

Emma Bridgewater Factory – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED

New Tourism Business of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire County Council

The Play Barn @ Round Meadows Farm, near Leek – GOLD

The Boat House Kitchen & Bakery by Pom’s, Barton Marina – SILVER

Bobobo, Stafford – BRONZE

The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer – HIGHLY COMMENDED

Pub of the Year

The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone – GOLD

The Black Lion Inn, Butterton – SILVER

The Star at Cotton – BRONZE

The Bank House, Hixon – HIGHLY COMMENDED

Rising Star Award, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent College

Paige Burnham, Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent – GOLD

Harvey Tweats, The Trentham Estate – SILVER

Cameron Sutton, World of Wedgwood – BRONZE

Lucy Fletcher, Duck Goose – HIGHLY COMMENDED

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year, sponsored by Foster for Staffordshire

Weston Park Holiday Cottages – GOLD

Ford Wetley Cottage, near Leek – SILVER

The Apartment at Eagle House Eccleshall – BRONZE

Small Hotel of the Year, sponsored by Stephensons Catering Supplies

Walnut House, The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone – GOLD

Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent – SILVER

The Upper House, Barlaston – BRONZE

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by RH Advertising

The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – GOLD

Tamworth Castle – SILVER

Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke-on-Trent – BRONZE

Middleport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent – BRONZE

Tea Room & Coffee Shop of the Year

World of Wedgwood Tea Room – GOLD

Pom’s Kitchen & Deli, Lichfield – SILVER

Denstone Hall Café, near Uttoxeter – Joint BRONZE

Canalside Farm, near Stafford – Joint BRONZE

Ramblers Retreat Country Tea Room, Alton – HIGHLY COMMENDED

Team of the Year, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Forestry England – Forestry Recreation Team, Cannock Chase Forest – GOLD

The Trentham Estate – Events & Operations Team – SILVER

Wetley Moor Alpacas – Walk Leaders – BRONZE

Unsung Hero Award, sponsored by Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group

Mick Thomas, Alton Towers Resort – GOLD

Stephen Wood, The Trentham Estate – SILVER

Lea Sherratt, Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent – BRONZE