Minster tops in tourism trade ‘Oscars’

10:15am Wednesday 12th September 2007

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SOME of North Yorkshire's best-loved attractions have scooped top awards at the region's tourism "Oscars" - while a host of others narrowly missed out.

The winners of the annual Yorkshire Tourist Board White Rose Awards for Tourism, were announced last night at the Magna Science Adventure Centre, at Templeborough, Rotherham.

York Minster was among the event's 17 winners when it was honoured for having the tourism website of the year and Castle Howard picked up the prestigious prize for best tourism experience of the year.

The 94 nervous finalists anxiously awaited the results surrounded by an audience of more than 650 supporters, VIPs, sponsors, invited guests and representatives from tourism businesses throughout Yorkshire - making it the largest tourism awards ceremony of its kind in the UK and the most successful awards ceremony in the event's 18 year history.

Presentations were made by Yorkshire Tourist Board's chief executive David Andrews and compared by BBC Look North presenters Harry Gration and Christa Ackroyd.

York Minster and Castle Howard will now both go forward to represent Yorkshire in the national Enjoy England Awards For Excellence organised by VisitBritain. York was a finalist in the visitor destination of the year category, but was narrowly pipped to the post by Bridlington.

Other York finalists to make the shortlist but miss out at the final hurdle included Marmadukes Hotel and York Caravan Park, both in the newcomer to tourism category, The Grange Hotel in the hotel of the year category and the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, and York Castle Museum, which were both shortlisted for visitor attraction of the year.

As well as winning the best tourism experience category, Castle Howard's Liz Lake narrowly missed out on an award for outstanding customer service, and the attraction was also a finalist for the sustainable tourism award.

Who picked up the prizes?

Among the winners and finalists were:

Visitor destination of the year:
Winner: Bridlington Finalists: York, Whitby, Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate.

Best Newcomer to Tourism:
Winner: Farmhouse Preserves, Crayke Finalists: The Dusty Miller and Coiners Restaurant with Rooms, Hebden Bridge; Marmadukes Hotel, York; Throapham House Bed & Breakfast, Sheffield; Welburn Lodge, Welburn, and York Caravan Park, York.

Hotel of the Year (up to 50 bedrooms):
Winner: The Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel, Bolton Abbey Finalists: The Grange Hotel, York; Hazlewood Castle Hotel, Tadcaster; Hotel du Vin, Harrogate; Middlethorpe Hall & Spa, York; Swinton Park, Masham, and Tickton Grange Hotel, Tickton.

Visitor Attraction of the Year (under 50,000 visitors):
Winner: The Yorkshire Waterways Museum, Goole Finalists: Standedge Tunnel &Visitor Centre, Marsden, and the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, York.

Visitor Attraction of the Year (50,000 visitors & over):
Winner: National Coal Mining Museum, Wakefield Finalists: Harewood House Trust, Leeds; Magna Science Adventure Centre, Rotherham; National Media Museum, Bradford; York Castle Museum, York.

Tourism Website of the Year:
Winner: York Minster, York (www.yorkminster.org) Finalists: Low Penhowe, Burythorpe; Shoreline Cottages Ltd, Whitby; Stoney End Holidays, Worton; The Wensleydale Heifer, West Witton.

Taste of Yorkshire Award:
Winner: Swinton Park, Masham Finalists: Lewis & Cooper - The Tearoom, Northallerton; Melton's Too, York; The Pipe & Glass Inn, South Dalton; Vennell's Restaurant, Masham.

Best Tourism Experience of the Year:
Winner: Castle Howard Estate, York Finalists: Cannon Hall Farm, Barnsley; Bradford International Markets Festival, Bradford; National Coal Mining Museum for England, Wakefield; Yorkboat, York.

Sustainable Tourism Award:
Winner: YHA Lockton, Lockton Finalists: Argument Cottage, Guisborough; Castle Howard Estate, York; Forestry Commission, Pickering.