The winners of the 2024 Visit York Tourism Awards have been revealed.
Celebrating the best of the city’s businesses across tourism, hospitality and culture, 17 awards were handed out a ceremony at York Racecourse on Thursday night.
This year’s winners include The Grand York, who took the Large Hotel of the Year. Small Hotel of the Year then went to The Pheasant Hotel, for their ‘luxurious’ rooms and dinner menu of ‘excellent quality.’
Elsewhere in accommodation, MonkBridge House took the award for B&B and Guest House of the Year, with judges commenting on their ‘clear passion for their business’ which has led to ‘excellent customer service’ for visitors. Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year was awarded to 101 House At The End, with judges saying how the business ‘operates with huge care and attention to detail.’
Pub of the Year was awarded to The Lime Tree Inn, which was praised for being ‘in a lovely setting, very relaxing and beautifully furnished.’
New to this year, the Wizard Walk of York has taken both the New Tourism Business Award and The Best of York Award, with judges calling the tour ‘pure feel-good’ and commenting that they ‘haven’t smiled and laughed continually so much in ages.
Experience of the Year was awarded to The Deathly Dark Tours, with judges commenting that there was ‘no room for improvement’ and the overall ‘experience was fantastic.’ The Deathly Dark Tours also went on to win Independent Business of the Year, as judges ‘loved the approach’ and the ‘entertaining features that also inform and educate’.
The Potions Cauldron took Retailer of the Year, with judges praising their ‘excellent growth’ and ‘impressive’ performance.
Sarah Loftus, Managing Director at Make It York, said: “A huge congratulations to our thoroughly deserving winners and finalists at this year’s Visit York Tourism Awards. Every business and organisation nominated tonight have helped establish York as the incredible, award-winning, world-class city that we’re recognised to be.”
Adam Wardale, chair of Hospitality Association York says: “What a night! We we’re delighted to see so many incredible businesses being celebrated, we’re incredibly proud to be part of a city providing such amazing experiences. A special mention to the winner of our Hospitality Hero Award, Indra, and to our highly commended finalist Julia – who seamlessly demonstrate everything our industry represents!
All the winners
Business Event Venue of the Year
Winner: The Guildhall, York
Finalists: The Guildhall York, and City Cruises
B&B and GuestHouse of the Year
Winner: MonkBridge House
Finalists: MonkBridge House, The Bar Convent Guest House, The Fat Badger, York
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
Winner: High Oaks Grange
Finalists: Flaxton Meadows, Wigwam Holidays Ball Hall Farm, High Oaks Grange
Event, Festival or Cultural Experience of the Year
Winner: Christmas at Castle Howard
Finalists: Christmas at Castle Howard, Hallow Scream at York Maze, York Pride, York Mansion House
Experience of the Year, sponsored by LNER
Winner: The Deathly Dark Tours
Finalists: Sharmini’s Inspirational Indian Cuisine, The Bloody Tour of York, The Deathly Dark Tours, The Wizard Walk of York
Independent Business of the Year
Winner: The Deathly Dark Tours
Finalists: Avorium, The Deathly Dark Tours, The Wizard Walk of York, Breezy Knees Gardens
Large Hotel of the Year
Winner: The Grand
Highly Commended: Middletons Hotel
Finalists: Middletons Hotel, Moxy York, The Grand
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Winner: The York Dungeon
Finalists: The York Dungeon, National Railway Museum, The Web Adventure Park, Yorkshire Air Museum
New Tourism Business Award
Winner: Wizard Walk of York
Highly Commended: Hart Lake Escapes
Finalists: Hart Lake Escapes, The Wizard Walk of York, Hocus Pocus Tiny Hotel
Pub of the Year
Winner: The Lime Tree Inn
Finalists: The Lime Tree Inn, The Fat Badger York, Social 8 Lounge, the Drovers Arms Restaurant and Country Pub
Retailer of the Year
Winner: The Potions Cauldron
Finalists: York Gin, Love Cheese, The Potions Cauldron
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
Winner: 101 House at the End
Finalists: Roomzzz Aparthotel York, 101 House at the End
Small Hotel of the Year
Winner: The Pheasant Hotel
Finalists: The Pheasant Hotel, Clementine’s Town house, Hocus Pocus Tiny Hotel
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Winner: World of James Herriot
Finalists: The Bar Convent Heritage Centre, World of James Herriot, The Hole in Wand, York Army Museum
Taste of England Award
Winner: Legacy at The Grand
Finalists: Legacy at The Grand, Fish & Forest, Ate O’Clock
The Best of York Award
Winner: The Wizard Walk of York
Finalists: The Wizard Walk of York, Millers Fish & Chips, The Bloody Tour of York
Hospitality Hero Award
Winner: Indra Petersone from Hilton York
Highly Commended: Julia Betteridge from Middlethorpe Hall & Spa
Finalists: Hannah Mather from The Principal York, Indra Petersone from Hilton York, Julia Betteridge from Middlethorpe Hall & Spa, Sean Alton from York Dungeon