The best in York’s tourism sector have been championed at a unique awards ceremony.
Fourteen of the city’s businesses celebrated a win in the first ever virtual Visit York Tourism Awards last night (Thursday, 23rd April) – you can see all the winners below.
They were announced on the Visit York social media channels and via a special live broadcast on Minster FM, compered by breakfast show hosts Ben Fry and Laura Castle.
The awards, sponsored by LNER, celebrate the very best of York’s shops, pubs, hotels, restaurants, attractions and more – rewarding quality, innovation and customer service.
New categories introduced for this year included ‘Event of the Year’ which was scooped by York Maze Hallowscream, the ‘Taste of York Award’ won by Roots York, and ‘Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award’ which was picked up on the night by the Jorvik Group of Attractions.
And Ben Fry – awards co-host, Minster FM breakfast presenter, and York town crier – was named Tourism Champion of the Year 2020!
Important celebration
Other winners for the night included The Grand, York who were crowned ‘Large Hotel of the Year’, Grays Court Hotel for ‘Small Hotel of the Year’ and Castle Howard for ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’.
The title of ‘Pub of the Year’ went to The Drovers Arm Country Pub & Restaurant and ‘Shop of the Year’ to York Gin.
MD of Make It York Sean Bullick said: “Now, more than ever, it’s important for us to come together and celebrate the achievements of the industry – and so we were delighted to be able to put together this virtual awards ‘ceremony’ with the help of Minster FM to ensure businesses still get the recognition they deserve.”
Bridget Meynell, MD of Minster FM, said the station was delighted to help. “The live show was even more accessible, as everyone in the city and beyond had the chance to celebrate with the York tourism businesses that work so hard to make our beautiful city so welcoming.”
Many of the winners will go forward to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence which are also being held virtually later in the year.
The winners
B&B and Guest House of the Year
Winner: Woodlands Farm Thimbleby
Finalists: No.21 York
Business Events Venue of the Year
Winner: The Grand, York
Finalists:
Novotel
York Barbican
York Racecourse
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
Winner: Vale of Pickering Caravan Park
Finalists:
Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges
York Holiday & Cycle Stop
Experience of the Year
Winner: The Bloody Tour of York
Highly Commended: The Cookery School at The Grand, York
Finalists:
Castle Howard
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Event of the Year
Winner: York Maze Hallowscream
Highly Commended: York Minster – The Northern Lights
Finalists:
JORVIK Viking Festival
International Tourism Award
Winner: The Grand, York
Finalists: OE Media
Large Hotel of the Year
Winner: The Grand, York
Finalists:
Grantley Hall
Hotel Indigo York
The Principal Hotel
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Winner: Castle Howard
Finalists:
JORVIK Viking Centre
National Railway Museum
New Tourism Business of the Year
Winner: Grantley Hall
Finalists:
Northwood Trail, England’s Fairy Sanctuary
OE Media
Yorkshire Appetite Food Tours
Pub of the Year
Winner: The Drovers Arms Restaurant & Country Pub
Finalists:
House of Trembling Madness (Lendal)
The Ackhorne
The Botanist York
Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
Winner: Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges
Finalists:
Serenity Inn the City
The Enchantment Chamber
Shop of the Year
Winner: York Gin
Highly Commended: Bluebird Bakery
Finalists:
The Balloon Tree Farmshop & Café
The Shop That Must Not Be Named
Small Hotel of the Year
Winner: Grays Court Hotel
Finalists:
Dean Court Hotel
The Parisi Hotel
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Winner: Energi Trampoline Park
Finalists:
Barley Hall
Locked in Games York
Mother Shipton’s Cave
York Army Museum
Taste of York Award
Winner: Roots, York
Highly Commended: The Whippet Inn
Finalists:
Plush Café
The Star Inn The City
The York Roast Co
Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award
Winner: Jorvik Group of Attractions
Tourism Champion of the Year 2020
Ben Fry