Leicestershire Tourism Awards
Gold winners were announced in 29 categories at this year’s Leicestershire Tourism and Hospitality Awards, held at the Athena, Leicester on 28 November 2019.
Gold winners on the night included hotels, conference venues, campsites, restaurants, cafes, food producers, bars and pubs, festivals and events, and visitor attractions. Some of the major winners were The Griffin Inn for Pub of the Year, John’s House restaurant for Taste Leicestershire, Twycross Zoo for Large Visitor Attraction, and the trees of The National Forest who won the coveted Tourism Superstar award.
The National Forest was recognised as this year’s Tourism Superstar for the remarkable transformative effect that it has had in regenerating large swathes of scarred and damaged countryside into a successful new tourism destination.
Now in its 9th year, the awards, organised by Leicestershire Promotions, are the regional heat of the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence. 12 of the winners will go forward as Leicestershire’s nominations for the national awards.
The award winners, commended and highly commended finalists are:
PROUD OF OUR PEOPLE
BEST TEAM
The White Peacock
Highly Commended:
College Court
Commended:
James Café Bistro
Alpaca Park Farm
INSPIRING MANAGER
Esme Ditano from The White Peacock
RISING STAR
Heather Jones from The Forge
BEST LOCAL FOOD AND DRINK PRODUCER
The Bee Farmer
Highly Commended:
Gelato Village
ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD
Timber Festival
NEW BUSINESS TOURISM AWARD
National Forest Ebike Holidays
Highly Commended:
The Tap & Run
Alpaca Park Farm
GREAT PLACES TO EAT AND DRINK
BEST FINE DINING EXPERIENCE
The White Peacock
Highly Commended:
Cini
TASTE OF LEICESTERSHIRE
John’s House
BEST LEICESTERSHIRE BREAKFAST
Café Next Door
Highly Commended:
Alpaca Park Farm
Tithe Barn
BEST CASUAL DINING EXPERIENCE
The Tap & Run
Highly Commended:
The Lighthouse
Winstanley House
Commended:
Boboli
BEST LOCAL FOOD/FARM SHOP
The Melton Cheeseboard
Highly Commended:
Manor Farm Shop
Commended:
Alpaca Park Farm
Café Next Door
Quorn Grange
PUB OF THE YEAR
The Griffin Inn
Highly Commended:
The White Horse
Commended:
The Forge
The Tap & Run
BEST COCKTAIL
The Gadabout
Highly Commended:
The White Peacock
GREAT PLACES TO STAY
SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR
Eye Kettleby Lakes
Highly Commended:
Brook Meadow
Commended:
Foxton Locks Lodges
CAMPING, GLAMPING AND HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR
Eye Kettleby Lakes
Highly Commended:
Brook Meadow
Commended:
Barford Top Campsite
LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Best Western Premier Yew Lodge Hotel
SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Winstanley House
BUSINESS EVENTS VENUE OF THE YEAR
College Court Conference Centre and Hotel
Highly Commended:
Bruntingthorpe Events
B&B/GUEST HOUSE OF THE YEAR
Holywell House
Highly Commended:
Marston Croft
FABULOUS THINGS TO DO
BEST EVENT – PAID
The Victory Show
Highly Commended:
Nevill Holt Opera
Highly Commended:
Dark Side of the Moon, National Space Centre
BEST EVENT – FREE
Mods: Shaping a Generation and ReVive Festival
Highly Commended:
Bring the Paint
Charnwood 14-18
Commended:
Market Harborough Food and Drink Festival
May the toys be with you
LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Twycross Zoo
Highly Commended:
National Space Centre
Conkers
SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre
Highly Commended:
Wistow Maze
Commended:
Retro Computer Museum
BEST NIGHT OUT
Loughborough Town Hall
BEST INDEPENDENT RETAIL OUTLET
Farndon Fields Farm Shop
Highly Commended:
Ferrers Gallery
BEST SHOPPING DESTINATION
Ferrers Centre for Arts and Crafts
Commended:
Ashby de la Zouch
Loughborough
BEST OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE
Greenwood Days
Highly Commended:
Haunted Heritage
Commended:
Avalanche Adventure
BEST ACTIVITY
Ultimate Pie Making Experience - Brockleby’s Pies
TOURISM SUPERSTAR
The National Forest
