Yorkshire tourism royalty crowned at awards

Winners were crowned across 16 categories at Welcome to Yorkshire’s White Rose Awards, sponsored by the Yorkshire Post.

Some 1,000 guests attended the black-tie dinner at New Dock Hall in Leeds.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “The world is now waking up to Yorkshire and our awards recognise the amazing achievements of our fantastic tourism businesses that make the county what it is today.

“They collectively help make visitors’ trips to Yorkshire enjoyable, memorable and special. The welcome people receive is matched only by their visitor experience and that’s what helps set Yorkshire apart from the rest.”

The event, hosted by BBC Look North’s Harry Gration and ITV Calendar’s Christine Talbot, opened with a message from Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme.He said: “I would like to thank those people who have contributed to the success and reputation of British cycling, especially those in Yorkshire. I am 100 per cent confident the Grand Départ in Yorkshire will be a huge success.”

Fittingly for the royalty-themed event, it was a castle that scooped the award for best large visitor attraction, with the gong going to Castle Howard near York.

The small visitor attraction prize went to Ryedale Folk Museum in Kirkbymoorside.

The award for business tourism went to The Spa, Bridlington. General manager Andrew Aldis said last night: “This means the world to us – it opens us up to the whole of Yorkshire. We’ve broken through the barrier and we’re no longer the silent venue on the coast.”

The Taste of Yorkshire award was presented to Yorkshire Provender soups of Ripon, while medieval drinking hall the House of the Trembling Madness in York city centre was toasted the region’s best pub.

The prize for the best restaurant was awarded to 1884 Dock Street Kitchen in Hull, where chef and patron James Allcock wowed judges with his innovative, ever-evolving modern British menu.

The panel was equally impressed with the delectable fare served up by boutique bed and breakfast Yorebridge House in the Dales village of Bainbridge, which was named the best restaurant with rooms.

Wentbridge House Hotel in Pontefract and Swinton Park in Masham were named the best large and small hotels, respectively.

The best bed and breakfast award went to Low Mill Guest House, a Grade II listed, late 18th Century corn mill in Bainbridge.

Rustic glamping spot Bivouac at Druid’s Temple, Masham, with its collection of woodland shacks, meadow yurts and barn houses, was named the best caravan and camping park, while waterside retreat Brompton Lakes took the prize for best self-catering accommodation.

Preserving a medieval tradition and attracting thousands of visitors to the city, last year’s York Mystery Plays were named the best tourism event.

Northern Ballet in Leeds picked up the arts and culture prize.

Its chief executive, Mark Skipper, said: “Northern Ballet is really a cultural ambassador for Yorkshire and we’re just delighted that the work we do for the 
region has been recognised in this way.”

Vicky Biles, general manager of York Theatre Royal, which was behind the York Mystery Plays, said: “It means so much to us and the 1,700 people that were involved. We accept this on their behalf.

“It is a tradition in the city and we’re sure they will happen again.”

The trophy for outstanding customer service was awarded to children’s play park and ropes course Web Adventure Park in York.

The prize for the best visitor information went to Doncaster Tourist Information Centre.

Judges sifted through a record number of entries this year, with nearly 300 hotels, restaurants, pubs and attractions putting themselves forward – a quarter of which had never entered before.

The winners were whittled down from a shortlist of around 100 by an independent panel of judges including former Yorkshire Post editor Peter Charlton, AA area manager and senior hotel and restaurant inspector Andrew Ford and food writer Elaine Lemm.

York University pro-vice chancellor Professor Colin Mellors, who chaired the panel, said: “Every year Yorkshire tourism goes from strength to strength and the White Rose Awards are a great way of recognising this.

“From customer service to innovative events, every winner should be proud of their achievement.”

The following businesses were highly commended:

• Small visitor attraction: World of James Herriot, Thirsk.

• Taste of Yorkshire: York Cocoa House, York.

• Large hotel: Coniston Hotel and Country Estate, Skipton.

• Small hotel: Cliffemount Hotel, Runswick Bay.

• Bed and breakfast: All Seasons Guest House, Filey.

• Caravan and camping park: Faweather Grange Holiday Lodges, Ilkley.

• Tourism event: Jorvik Viking Festival, York.

• Art and culture: Theatre Royal, Wakefield.

• Business tourism: National Railway Museum, York.

• Customer service: the Inn at Hawnby, near Helmsley.

• Tourist information: Humber Bridge TIC.