Your starter for ten. What links the traditional comforts of the Quilt Museum to the distinctly discomforting Hallowscream, an established vegan restaurant to a new steakhouse, and a Georgian mansion to a 1960s bunker?
The answer is they’re all finalists in the York Tourism Awards 2014.
Visitor attractions, pubs, hotels, restaurants and their staff are all up for gongs in the annual awards, organised by Visit York.
New this year is a public poll to decide on York’s Best B&B. Visitors can vote to get their favourite on the shortlist on the Visit York website until midnight on March 24.
Finalists for the bed and breakfast category will be revealed on March 31, when public voting for the winner will commence.
“In a growing global tourism market, it’s vitally important we recognise and acknowledge excellence to ensure York retains its competitive edge,” said head of Visit York Kate McMullen.
The 14 tourism awards will be handed out at a black tie dinner on Thursday, May 8 at Station Hall at the National Railway Museum.
And the 2014 Tourism Ambassador will be named at the ceremony. Last year, the title was given to Damian Cruden, artistic director of York Theatre Royal.
Winners will go forward to the regional White Rose Awards and national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
The finalists in full
Visitor Attraction of the Year – under 50,000 visitors
Goddards – National Trust
Quilt Museum and Gallery
York Cold War Bunker
York MotorSports Village
Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland
Visitor Attraction of the Year – over 50,000 visitors
Beningbrough Hall, Gallery & Gardens
Castle Howard
National Railway Museum
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
York Maze
York Racecourse
Visitor Experience of the Year
JORVIK Viking Festival
KABOOM
Mallard75, National Railway Museum
York Cycle Tour – Scoot Cycling Holidays
Hallowscream – York Maze
Shopping Experience of the Year
Monk Bar Model Shop
Pandora York
York’s CHOCOLATE Story
York Cocoa House
York Does Vintage – Now and Then Group
Conference Venue of the Year
The Merchant Taylors Hall
National Railway Museum
Novotel York
York Conferences
York Racecourse
Hotel of the Year
Best Western York Pavilion Country House Hotel
The National Trust’s Middlethorpe Hall & Spa
Novotel York
The Parsonage Hotel & Spa
Raithwaite Hall
Caravan Park of the Year
Cawood Holiday Park
Naburn Lock Caravan Park
Robin Hood Caravan Park
Self Catering of the Year
The Dovecote Barns
High Dalby House Cottages
The Old Brewery
Old Gallery & Chamber Apartments
The Riverside – York
Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges & Shepherd Hut
Outstanding Customer Service Award
Greg Palmer – Best Western Monkbar Hotel
Marcus Naylor – The Golden Fleece
Sandra & David Wreglesworth – High Dalby House & Cottages
Jade Kelly – Holiday Inn York
Rebecca & Damian Palmer-Bunting – Robin Hood Caravan Park
Jeanette Hutchinson – York Marriott Hotel
Restaurant of the Year
El Piano
Lascelles Restaurant at the Parsonage Hotel & Spa
The Oak Room at Middlethorpe Hall & Spa
The Raj
The Whippet Inn Steak and Ale House
Café/Tearoom of the Year
Crumbs Cupcakery
El Piano
Kafeneion
York Cocoa House
Pub/Bar of the Year
The Golden Fleece
Guy Fawkes Inn
House of the Trembling Madness
The Three Tuns
The Whippet Inn Steak and Ale House
Bed and Breakfast of the Year
Finalists to be announced 31 March
Tourism Ambassador
To be announced May 8