They are the best in the business.
The winners of the Visit York Tourism Awards have been revealed at a prestigious awards ceremony at York Racecourse tonight (Thursday).
Sixteen honours were handed out to the finest in the city’s events, attractions and hospitality sectors.
This year’s winners include Middletons Hotel, who take Large Hotel of the Year, with judges commenting on the ‘high-quality’ hotel and food, as well as praise for ‘team members who deliver great service’.
The hotel’s General Manager, Adam Wardale, went on to win the national VisitEngland Award for Excellence in 2022 following his award win for Unsung Hero at last year’s Visit York Tourism Awards.
Small Hotel of the Year and Taste of England Award goes to Grays Court Hotel and The Bow Room Restaurant, with judges commenting that they were “hard to beat” offering a “unique stay” and “excellent” standard of food.
Elsewhere in accommodation, The Bishop & The Bison took the award for B&B and Guest House of the Year, with judges praising their “friendly and warm atmosphere” and “luxury”. The Dovecote Barns were awarded Self Catering Accommodation of the Year, judges commented that their “attention to detail shines through” and that “the personal touches were brilliant”.
No.1 by GuestHouse, York was awarded New Tourism Business of the Year. Judges praised the “positive attitude of this hotel” and that the “standards of service were excellent”.
This year’s awards introduced two new categories, including the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award which was presented to Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens who were praised by judges for their “really outstanding application” and “a peaceful and tranquil environment”.
The second new award for 2023 was Cultural Venue of the Year, which was won by York Theatre Royal. Judges said they show “an excellent approach and passion for the future potential of theatre”.
The awards night was sponsored by LNER and hosted by previous Visit York Tourism Award winner Alicia Stabler, also known as Mad Alice from The Bloody Tour of York, and BBC’s Elly Fiorentini.
Make It York MD Sarah Loftus said: “A huge congratulations to our thoroughly deserving winners and finalists at this year’s Visit York Tourism Awards. Every single business and organisation nominated tonight is one of the reasons why York has been recognised as such a welcoming place to visit.”
All the winners
B&B and Guest House of the Year
Winner: The Bishop & The Bison
Finalists: MonkBridge House, Westergate House, The Sidings Hotel & Restaurant
Sponsored by: Shambles Market
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
Winner: Wigwam Holidays Ball Hall Farm
Finalists: Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges, York Meadows Camping & Caravan Park
Sponsored by: Greatest Hits Radio
Cultural Venue of the Year
Winner: York Theatre Royal
Finalists: York Mansion House, Grand Opera House York, York Barbican
Sponsored by: Latimer by Clarion Housing Group
Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award
Winner: Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
Finalists: Avorium, Fairfax Corner
Sponsored by: The Fabl
Event or Festival of the Year
Winner: York Theatre Royal – An Evening with Kyiv City Ballet
Finalists: York Proms, York Maze Hallowscream, Yorktoberfest, York Fashion Week
Sponsored by: LNER
Experience of the Year
Winner: The Cookery School at The Grand, York
Highly Commended: The Wizard Walk of York
Finalists: The Hilt, The Deathly Dark Tours
Sponsored by: Destination Core
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Winner: Castle Howard
Highly Commended: North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Finalists: The York Dungeon, The Web Adventure Park, Jorvik Viking Centre (York Archaeological Trust), The Hole in Wand York
Sponsored by: Ward Hadaway
Large Hotel of the Year
Winner: Middletons Hotel
Highly Commended: The Grand, York
Finalist: Malmaison York
Sponsored by: Streamline Taxis
New Tourism Business of the Year
Winner: No.1 by GuestHouse
Finalists: 22 Yards Wine Bar & Merchants, Avorium, A Brecks Away Holiday Cottages, The Wizard Walk of York
Sponsored by: PPS
Pub of the Year
Winner: The Drovers Arms
Finalists: Valhalla York
Sponsored by: Hunter Gee Holroyd
Resilience & Innovation Award
Winner: Next Door But One CIC
Finalists: City Sightseeing (Transdev), Yemen Heaven, The Deathly Dark Tours
Sponsored by: York St John University
Retailer of the Year
Winner: York Gin
Finalists: Avorium, Antiques Centre York, The Potions Cauldron
Sponsored by: Fidomoney
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
Winner: The Dovecote Barns
Finalists: Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges, A Brecks Away Holiday Cottages
Sponsored by: YO1 Radio
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Winner: Mother Shipton’s Cave
Finalists: York Army Museum, World of James Herriot
Sponsored by: VisiSoft
Small Hotel of the Year
Winner: Grays Court Hotel
Finalists: Feversham Arms Hotel & Verbena Spa, No.1 by GuestHouse, York
Sponsored by: Inglis Chartered Accountants
Taste of England Award
Winner: The Bow Room Restaurant at Grays Court Hotel
Finalists: Corner Grill House Restaurant, Chopping Block at Walmgate Ale House, The Raj York
Sponsored by: Fowlers of York
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