Plau and 263 Restaurant in Preston and a number of Blackpool places, including ceremony hosts Winter Gardens and the Pleasure Beach also won awards
The awards ceremony celebrating the best of leisure and tourism in Lancashire have taken place. The Lancashire Tourism Awards 2022 bash was held at Blackpool Winter Gardens, with the Flower BowlEntertainment Centre,Highest Point Festival and Blackpool Pleasure Beach taking two of the top awards.
The family-friendly complex in Barton, which has its own curling rink, cinema, mini golf course and bowling alley took home the coveted Visitor Attraction of the Year Award. While the live music and arts festival in Williamson Park, Lancaster scooped the Event of the Year prize.
The glitzy ceremony was hosted by Britain’s Got Talent finalist and panto veteran Steve Royle at Blackpool Events and Conference Centre, the newest addition to the Winter Gardens complex, who won the Cultural Venue of the Year gong.
READ MORE: Stunning Lancashire district named top place for half term ‘staycation’ in UK
It was a successful night for Preston’s food and drink scene, with businesses fighting off tough competition to win their respective awards. Plau, on Friargate was victorious in the Best Pub category, edging out the Shireburn Arms in Ribble Valley and Oswaldtwistle’s White Bull and 263 Restaurant on Winckley Square was given the prestigious Taste Lancashire Awards.
The fine dining restaurant beat The Coach and Horses in Bolton-by-Bowland and La Laconda in Gisburn. Other award highlights include Blackpool Pleasure Beach winning The Experience of the Year Award for their ‘Walk the…’ rollercoaster adventure.
The Ribble Valley, which was recently named a top destination for a ‘staycation’ is also home to the Wedding Venue of the Year, with the rural Out Barn in Clitheroe taking the top spot.
Rachel McQueen, chief executive of Marketing Lancashire lauded praise on the county’s tourism and hospitality industry’s ability to “fight back” from the impact of covid.
“Success in 2022 was hard fought, hard won, against, quite literally, all the odds. But successes there were, and significant ones too,” she added.
“What came through loud and clear from the judges and our mystery shoppers was the tremendous hard work, determination, entrepreneurship and vision demonstrated by our tourism businesses.
“There is absolutely no shortage of pride, passion and ambition in this room, and myself and the Marketing Lancashire team look forward to working with you to support the county’s tourism and hospitality sector to thrive.”
Lancashire Tourism Awards 2022 full winners
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award *
The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton
Brickhouse Farm Holiday Cottages & Lakeside Hub, Hambleton – WINNER
Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs
Thornton Hall Country Park, Thornton-in-Craven
Business Events Venue of the Year *
Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley
Ewood Experience, Blackburn
Merlin Events, Blackpool – WINNER
The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth
Winter Gardens Blackpool
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year *
Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Newsholme
Newton Hall Holiday Park, Blackpool
Ribble Valley Retreat, Langho – WINNER
The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale
Stanley Villa Farm Fishing & Camping, Greenhalgh
Cultural Venue/Organisation Award
Lancaster Grand Theatre
Winter Gardens Blackpool – WINNER
Samlesbury Hall
Dog Friendly Business of the Year
Bella Vista Lodge, Blackpool
The Golden Ball of Longton
HAPPA, Shores Hey Farm, Briercliffe
The Lawrence Hotel, Padiham – WINNER
Mowbreck Holiday Park, Wesham
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award *
Laythams Holiday Lets Retreat, Slaidburn
Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Newsholme – WINNER
The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth
Experience of the Year *
Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours
Blackpool Pleasure Beach ‘Walk The…’ Experiences – WINNER
Countryside & Culinary Breaks at Dale House Barn, Slaidburn
Goosnargh Gin School Experience Days
Inch Perfect Trials Experience Day, Whitewell
Hospitality and Tourism Student of the Year
Steven Cartmell, BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Travel & Tourism at Blackpool Sixth Form College.
Sophie Lancaster, NCFE Extended Diploma Travel & Tourism at Runshaw College
Charlie Nicholls, C&G L3 Diploma in Professional Cookery at Blackpool and the Fylde College – WINNER
David Wetherill, Chef Diploma at Runshaw College
Hotel Wedding Venue of the Year
Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley
Mitton Hall, Mitton – WINNER
Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho
Stanley House Hotel & Spa, Mellor
Lancashire Perfect Stay – Small Serviced Accommodation *
3 Millstones Inn, West Bradford
Dale House Barn and B&B, Slaidburn
Fence Gate Lodge, Fence – WINNER
The Lawrence Hotel, Padiham
The Royal at Heysham
Large Event of the Year Award
British Textile Biennial, East Lancashire
Christmas by the Sea, Blackpool
Highest Point Festival, Lancaster – WINNER
Santa Specials at East Lancashire Railway
Large Hotel of the Year *
Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley
Foxfields Country Hotel, Whalley
Hampton by Hilton Blackpool – WINNER
Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho
New Tourism Business of the Year *
The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton
Ribble Valley Retreat, Langho – WINNER
Pub of the Year *
PLAU, Preston – WINNER
Shireburn Arms, Hurst Green
White Bull Oswaldtwistle
Resilience and Innovation Award *
The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale
The Whitehall Hotel & Distillery, Darwen – WINNER
Winter Gardens Blackpool
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year *
Brickhouse Holiday Cottages, Hambleton
Laythams Holiday Lets Retreat, Clitheroe
Oakdean Cottages, Langho – WINNER
Small Event of the Year Award
British Country Music Festival, Blackpool
Chorley Flower Show
Dino Fest, Lancaster
Pumpkin Festival at Ridgeway Farm, Blackpool
Thornton Hall Christmas Adventure, Thornton-in-Craven – WINNER
Taste Lancashire Award *
263 Restaurant, Preston – WINNER
The Coach and Horses, Bolton-by-Bowland
La Locanda, Gisburn
Taste Lancashire Producer Award
Brindle Distillery, Chorley – WINNER
Goosnargh Gin
Lancaster Brewery Spirits Company
Morecambe Bay Chowder
Unsung Hero Award
Jenna Bullows, Assistant Manager, The Whitehall Hotel and Distillery
Sharon Jones, Hall Director, Samlesbury Hall
Jeremy Rowlands, Managing Director, Meat & Drink – WINNER
Visitor Attraction of the Year *
The Blackpool Tower
The Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre, Brock – WINNER
Thornton Hall Country Park, Thornton-in-Craven
Wedding Venue of the Year
The Mount Pavilion, Fleetwood
The Out Barn, Waddington – WINNER
Samlesbury Hall
The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth
* The winners of these categories will have the opportunity to represent Lancashire in the national Visit England Awards for Excellence 2023 competition, subject to them meeting criteria.
- 10:45, 8 FEB 2023