Calderdale success at Yorkshire tourism awards

More than 1,100 people attended Welcome to Yorkshire’s White Rose Awards at the brand new Hall One at the Yorkshire Event Centre, in Harrogate – the first awards dinner to be held at the venue.

The awards, which are the UK’s largest celebration of tourism, saw businesses from across the county go head to head in 17 different categories, from Restaurant of the Year, to Outstanding Customer Service.

Hebden Bridge Visitor Centre took home the Visitor Information award and Keelham Farm Shop scooped the Taste of Yorkshire prize.

Guests were also treated to one-off musical performances from James Bond and Annie, as well as appearances from Yorkshire’s Olympic and Paralympic heroes and stars from Emmerdale and the Channel 5 series, The Yorkshire Vet.

Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “Yorkshire is very much on the must visit list for many people, and much of this is down to the wonderful people and businesses that help to make this county a world class visitor destination.

“The White Rose Awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate their hard work and efforts in going the extra mile to help raise the bar nationally.”

Chair of the independent panel of judges, Professor Colin Mellors, added: “The standard of entries gets stronger and stronger every year, making it very difficult to choose the winners, and those who are highly commended.

“To be shortlisted is a real achievement in itself, so to win a White Rose Award, a business has truly gone above and beyond.”

Winners:

Yorkshire Pub of the Year – The Coach and Horses, Harrogate

Business Tourism Award – Pavilions of Harrogate

Restaurant with Rooms – The Star Inn at Harome

Large Attraction – Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield

Taste of Yorkshire – Keelham Farm Shop, Bradford and Skipton

Arts and Culture Award – Yorkshire Young Sinfonia

Visitor Information – Hebden Bridge Visitor Centre

Self-catering – Cottage in the Dales, Wensleydale

Caravan and Holiday Park – Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges, York

Small Hotel – The Pheasant Hotel, Harome

Guest Accommodation – Low Mill Guesthouse, Bainbridge

Makers and Producers – Sloemotion, near Malton

Small Attraction – National Centre for Birds of Prey, Helmsley

Restaurant of the Year – The Hare Restaurant, Scawton

Outstanding Customer Service – Bettys Café Tea Rooms, Harrogate

Large Hotel – The Devonshire Arms Hotel and Spa, Bolton Abbey

Tourism Event of the Year – Flying Scotsman, Yorkshire-wide

Highly Commended:

Business Tourism Award – York Conferences

Restaurant with Rooms – Prashad, Drighlington, near Leeds

Large Attraction – Brontë Parsonage Museum, Haworth

Taste of Yorkshire – Yorkshire Food Finder, York

Arts and Culture Award – Swaledale Festival

Visitor Information – Humber Bridge Tourist Information Centre, Hessle

Self-catering – Broadgate Farm Cottages, Beverley

Caravan and Holiday Park – Humble Bee Farm, Scarborough

Guest Accommodation – Grassfield Hall, Pateley Bridge

Makers and Producers – Dalesbred, Settle

Small Attraction – National Emergency Services Museum, Sheffield

Outstanding Customer Service – The 36. Riding Redefined, Harrogate

Tourism Event of the Year – Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate