Trailblazing businesses from across Cumbria’s vibrant visitor economy gathered at Kendal’s Castle Green hotel last night, Wednesday 5 July, to congratulate the winners of the county’s annual tourism ‘Oscars’.
Hosted by ITV Border reporter and presenter Kate Walby and sponsored by United Utilities, the Cumbria Tourism Awards 2023 saw 15 main awards presented to a diverse range of high-achieving businesses.
To win, the judges were looking for operators that offer truly distinctive, memorable visitor experiences and demonstrate excellence across every aspect of their business.
The Cumbria Tourism Awards 2023 winners are:
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award – Sponsored by Lake District National Park
Bassenthwaite Lake Station
Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award – Sponsored by Westmorland & Furness Council
The Yan at Broadrayne, Grasmere
Large Hotel of the Year – Sponsored by Christie & Co
Storrs Hall Hotel, Windermere
Small Hotel of the Year – Sponsored by Colliers
Rothay Manor, Ambleside
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year – Sponsored by The Cumberland
Cragg Cottage, Torver
Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park of the Year – Sponsored by Burnetts
Hillcroft, Pooley Bridge
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Sponsored by Dodd & Co
Wordsworth Grasmere
The Dock Museum, Barrow-in-Furness (highly commended)
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Sponsored by H&H Reeds
Walby Farm Park, Crosby-on-Eden
Experience of the Year – Sponsored by Cumberland Council
The Infinity Bridge at Honister
The Sheila Hensman Unsung Hero Award
Ben McGregor, Lake District Estates
Wedding Venue of the Year
Lindeth Howe Hotel, Bowness-on-Windermere
Taste of Cumbria Award – Sponsored by Lamont Pridmore
Allium at Askham Hall
The Yan at Broadrayne, Grasmere (highly commended)
Makers and Producers Award – Sponsored by Aqua Pura
Cumbria Crystal, Ulverston
New Tourism Business Award – Sponsored by Thomson Hayton Winkley
Lanty Slee’s Saloon Bar, Elterwater
Pub of the Year – Sponsored by Napthens
The Dalesman Country Inn, Sedbergh
To round off the night, there was a special surprise presentation of the Bernard Gooch Award for ‘Cumbria’s Tourism Personality of the Year’. This is the highest award collectively given by the industry for lifelong services to tourism; this year, it was awarded jointly to Peter and Iona Frost-Pennington of Muncaster Castle and Gardens.
The Frost-Penningtons have an immense passion for Cumbria, particularly the Western Lake District and Coast, and have been responsible for delivering many tourism projects domestically and internationally. As a couple they oversee one of the UK’s key heritage sites and are well-known as leading lights in sustainability. Iona was previously the High Sheriff of Cumbria, while Peter is a high-profile representative for the county on many tourism steering groups and boards.
Managing Director of Cumbria Tourism, Gill Haigh, says, “It has been an immense privilege to bring together such a wide range of tourism-related operators to pay tribute to their hard work and dedication in delivering world-class experiences to visitors.
“It’s only fitting that many of our winners could now go on to represent Cumbria nationally at next year’s VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, following in the footsteps of seven previous Cumbria Tourism Award winners recently honoured with gold and silver accolades on the national stage.
“We should be tremendously proud of not only our award-winners, but of all of the finalists. who continue to help make our county an incredible place for us all to live, work, study and visit.”
The Cumbria Tourism Awards are organised on a ‘not for profit’ basis and this year’s designated charity is mental health charity Growing Well.
Cumbria Tourism is grateful to its sponsors for making the competition possible. They include headline sponsor United Utilities, along with all of the individual category sponsors:
Aqua Pura, Burnetts, Christie & Co, Colliers, Cumberland Council, Dodd & Co, H&H Reeds, Lake District National Park, Lamont Pridmore, Napthens, The Cumberland, Thomson Hayton Winkley and Westmorland & Furness Council.
The event is also supported by Lawson Design, EWGA Wines, Booths, Heineken, Mr & Mrs Jones Events and Jenny Woolgar Photography.