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.
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
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