THE BEST of the region’s tourism industry was celebrated at Welcome to Yorkshire’s White Rose Awards last night.

The winners for 2020 were unveiled during a virtual ceremony with hotels, restaurants, pubs and experiences in York and North Yorkshire among the success stories.

Bronze, silver and gold honours were awarded in each of the 17 categories throughout the evening which is usually the biggest tourism awards ceremony in the UK.

York Press:

Hosts Natalie Anderson and Rich Williams presented 17 awards to 16 top Yorkshire businesses and organisations in the tourism and hospitality sector

Tourism in Yorkshire is annually worth £9 billion, with the county’s tourism and hospitality industry employing almost 225,000 people.

It has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis, but White Rose Awards’ chair of judges Elaine Lemm said the fact the awards still went ahead reflected ‘the grit of the tourism and hospitality sector here in the county during such difficult times’.

Welcome to Yorkshire’s chief executive James Mason said: “2020 hasn’t been the year any of us expected, but we are completely committed to celebrating the vast tourism talent we have here in Yorkshire."

This year’s awards relate to the 12 months between April, 2019 and March 31, 2020.

James added: “Since then however we know it’s been incredibly challenging for all our members but I’ve been blown away by the creativity and enthusiasm which has emerged with online events, shops and deliveries, virtual tours and performances.”

Chris Kamara, Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen, actor Nicholas Ralph, Paralympian Hannah Cockcroft and Dr Amir Khan, were among the stars who took part in the show, either performing or sending congratulatory messages to the winners.

For the second year running the Small Hotel award went to Grays Court Hotel in York, with silver going to Galtres Lodge Hotel, York.

The Grand, York, won gold in the Business Events Venue of the Year, with Lakeside Conference Centre (part of York Biotech Campus) taking silver.

The Drovers Arms Restaurant & Country Pub, Skipwith, was crowned Pub of the Year. The Rattle Owl, York, won gold in the Taste of England – Casual Dining Award, with Forest, York, taking bronze.

The top Tourism Event title went to Hallowscream at York Maze

Jorvik Viking Centre scooped silver in the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award.

The Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year gold award went to High Oaks Grange, Pickering, while the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism gold award went to the National Centre for Birds of Prey, Helmsley.

Brickfields Farm, Kirkbymoorside, won gold in the B&B and Guest House of the Year with Orchard Lodge, Scarborough, taking silver and Cawthorne House, Pickering, winning bronze.

The Bloody Tour of York took bronze in the Experience of the Year category.

Grantley Hall, Ripon took gold in Large Hotel of the Year, with the Yorkshire Hotel, Harrogate, taking silver and bronze going to the Grand, York.

In Self-catering Accommodation of the Year category, gold went to Grand Get-Togethers, Malton; silver to High Oaks Grange, Pickering.

James Mason added: “The easiest thing would have been to cancel tonight’s awards but that’s simply not the Yorkshire way is it?

"I’m so proud that despite the lockdown we’ve still been able to put these awards on to celebrate all our fantastic tourism businesses, albeit virtually. Never has our sector been more deserving of some cheerleading and recognition.

“The biggest of congratulations to all our White Rose Award winners, to everyone who got a silver or bronze award and indeed to every single finalist.

"I know how incredibly challenging this year has been, but the grit and determination to keep going is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. The sheer quality and diversity we’ve seen tonight is all the proof we need of how ready Yorkshire is to welcome tourists back safely when we can.”

The event also raised money for Yorkshire Cancer Research. The charity was due to be the official partner for the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire which has now been postponed until 2022.

Donations will be used to help save lives by preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer in Yorkshire.

The cyber-ceremony was sponsored by York City Knights.

WHITE ROSE AWARDS 2020 WINNERS – FULL LIST

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award

GOLD Cottage in the Dales, Leyburn

SILVER JORVIK Viking Centre

BRONZE Leeds Playhouse

Arts & Culture Award

GOLD The Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough

SILVER Harewood House Trust

BRONZE Selby District Council (Selby 950)

B&B and Guest House of the Year

GOLD Brickfields Farm, Kirkbymoorside

SILVER Orchard Lodge, Scarborough

BRONZE Cawthorne House, Pickering

Business Events Venue of the Year

GOLD The Grand, York

SILVER Lakeside Conference Centre (part of York Biotech Campus)

BRONZE Mercure Barnsley Tankersley Manor

Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year

GOLD High Oaks Grange, Pickering

SILVER Brompton Lakes, Richmond

BRONZE Catgill Farm - Camping and Luxury Glamping, Bolton Abbey

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award

GOLD National Centre for Birds of Prey, Helmsley

SILVER The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa

BRONZE Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton

Experience of the Year

GOLD Hotham's Gin School and Distillery

SILVER Leeds Cookery School

BRONZE The Bloody Tour of York

Large Hotel of the Year

GOLD Grantley Hall, Ripon

SILVER The Yorkshire Hotel

BRONZE The Grand, York

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

GOLD Harewood House Trust

SILVER Wensleydale Creamery

BRONZE Cannon Hall Farm, Barnsley

New Tourism Business Award

GOLD Grantley Hall, Ripon

SILVER Waleswood Caravan and Camping Park at Rother Valley Country Park

BRONZE The Private Hill, Acklam

Producers and Makers Award

GOLD Rounton Coffee Roasters, Northallerton

SILVER Bullion Chocolate, Sheffield

BRONZE The Candied Peel Cake Co, Leeds

Pub of the Year

GOLD The Drovers Arms Restaurant & Country Pub, Skipwith

SILVER The Millers Bar, Brighouse

BRONZE The Clarendon Country pub with rooms, Hebden

Self-catering Accommodation of the Year

GOLD Grand Get-Togethers, Malton

SILVER High Oaks Grange, Pickering

BRONZE Holly House Farm, Hudswell

Small Hotel of the Year

GOLD Grays Court Hotel in York

SILVER Galtres Lodge Hotel, York

BRONZE The Devonshire Fell, Burnsall

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year

GOLD Bradford Cathedral

SILVER Mother Shipton's, Knaresborough

BRONZE Studfold Adventure Trail, Lofthouse

Taste of England – Casual Dining Award

GOLD The Rattle Owl, York

SILVER Wensleydale Creamery

BRONZE Forest, York

Tourism Event Award

GOLD Hallowscream at York Maze

SILVER Wakefield Rhubarb Festival

BRONZE Banana Kick & LeedsBID – The Leeds Jurassic Trail