The crème-de-la-crème of Staffordshire tourism and hospitality have been crowned at this year’s Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism and Good Food Awards.
Businesses from across the county gathered at Aspects at National Memorial Arboretum, near Lichfield, for the glittering black-tie event, hosted by BBC Midlands Today’s Rebecca Wood.
An audience of more than 300 guests saw the winners of 20 categories announced, including Alton Towers Resort (Large Visitor Attraction of the Year), The Brampton Museum (Small Visitor Attraction of the Year), and The Flintlock at Cheddleton (Independent Restaurant of the Year).
Hoar Cross Hall was named Hotel of the Year, while The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone, was Pub of the Year, and the World of Wedgwood Tea Room won the Tea Room/Coffee Shop of the Year award.
The Experience of the Year went to Nelson’s Distillery & School, for their Gin Still Experience, while New Business of the Year was The Play Barn @ Round Meadows Farm, near Leek, and Canalside Farm Shop, near Stafford, was the Food & Drink Retailer/Farm Shop of the Year.
B&B and Guest House of the Year was Eagle House Eccleshall, and the Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year award went to Weston Park Holiday Cottages, on the Staffordshire-Shropshire border.
And there were wins for Alton Towers Resort’s Mick Thomas in the Unsung Hero category, Keele University Events & Conferencing (Business Events Venue of the Year) and National Memorial Arboretum, which was successful in the Accessible & Inclusive Tourism and the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism categories.
Forestry England’s Forestry Recreation Team at Cannock Chase Forest won the Team of the Year award, and Paige Burnham from Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent was named the Rising Star.
There was also a special award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in Staffordshire presented to The Evans Family, owners of Denstone Hall Café & Farm Shop, near Uttoxeter, in recognition of their unwavering commitment to protecting the environment and supporting local food & drink producers.
Philip White, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for tourism at Staffordshire County Council, said: “This is our tenth awards now and once again it’s fantastic to be able to celebrate our amazing tourism sector.
“We’re attraction central, the biggest and best playground in the country and I’m incredibly proud of our tourism offer and everyone working in the sector. I would like to say a huge congratulations to all our winners and those highly commended and a big thanks to the National Memorial Arboretum for hosting the event.
“Tourism continues to boom here in Staffordshire, generating an estimated £2.3 billion for the local economy and employing thousands of people. This is due to the hard work and determination of our hospitality businesses to provide excellent and memorable visitor experiences.
“Once again a huge well done to the sector and good luck to our winners who now go forward to the national VisitEngland awards.”
The winners of 16 categories progress to represent Staffordshire at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, to be held in June 2024.
Category sponsors at the 2024 Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism & Good Food Awards were Staffordshire University, Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, We Are Staffordshire, Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group, Stoke-on-Trent College, RH Advertising, Service Science, Foster for Staffordshire, Pear OOH, and Stephensons Catering Supplies.
WINNERS – 2024 ENJOY STAFFORDSHIRE TOURISM & GOOD FOOD AWARDS
Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award, sponsored by We Are Staffordshire
National Memorial Arboretum – GOLD
Alton Towers Resort – SILVER
The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – BRONZE
B&B and Guest House of the Year
Eagle House, Eccleshall – GOLD
The Black Lion Inn, Butterton – SILVER
St John’s House, Lichfield – BRONZE
Business Events Venue of the Year
Keele University Events & Conferencing – GOLD
Aston Marina, Stone – SILVER
The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – BRONZE
Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year
Duck Goose, Leek – GOLD
Thyme Kitchen, Lichfield – SILVER
The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer – BRONZE
Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award, sponsored by Staffordshire University
National Memorial Arboretum – GOLD
Alton Towers Resort – SILVER
Hoar Cross Hall – Joint BRONZE
Eagle House, Eccleshall – Joint BRONZE
The Trentham Estate – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED
The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED
Experience of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire University
Gin Still Experience, Nelson’s Distillery & School – GOLD
Throw A Pot Experience, Love Clay, Stoke-on-Trent – SILVER
Alpaca Trekking, Wetley Moor Alpacas, near Leek – BRONZE
Photography Workshop, Chappers Photography, near Abbots Bromley – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Food & Drink Retailer or Farm Shop of the Year
Canalside Farm Shop, near Stafford – GOLD
Denstone Hall Farm Shop, near Uttoxeter – SILVER
The Titanic Brewery Shop, Stoke-on-Trent – BRONZE
Independent Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Stephensons Catering Supplies
The Flintlock at Cheddleton – GOLD
FEASTED, Stoke-on-Trent – Joint SILVER
The Granary Restaurant at Weston Park – Joint SILVER
Hoar Cross Hall – Joint BRONZE
Little Seeds, Stone – Joint BRONZE
Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Large Hotel of the Year, sponsored by Service Science
Hoar Cross Hall – GOLD
Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent – SILVER
CBeebies Land Hotel, Alton Towers Resort – Joint BRONZE
Drayton Manor Hotel, Drayton Manor Resort – Joint BRONZE
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by Pear OOH
Alton Towers Resort – GOLD
National Memorial Arboretum – SILVER
The Trentham Estate – Joint BRONZE
World of Wedgwood – Joint BRONZE
Drayton Manor Resort – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED
Emma Bridgewater Factory – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED
New Tourism Business of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire County Council
The Play Barn @ Round Meadows Farm, near Leek – GOLD
The Boat House Kitchen & Bakery by Pom’s, Barton Marina – SILVER
Bobobo, Stafford – BRONZE
The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Pub of the Year
The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone – GOLD
The Black Lion Inn, Butterton – SILVER
The Star at Cotton – BRONZE
The Bank House, Hixon – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Rising Star Award, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent College
Paige Burnham, Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent – GOLD
Harvey Tweats, The Trentham Estate – SILVER
Cameron Sutton, World of Wedgwood – BRONZE
Lucy Fletcher, Duck Goose – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year, sponsored by Foster for Staffordshire
Weston Park Holiday Cottages – GOLD
Ford Wetley Cottage, near Leek – SILVER
The Apartment at Eagle House Eccleshall – BRONZE
Small Hotel of the Year, sponsored by Stephensons Catering Supplies
Walnut House, The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone – GOLD
Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent – SILVER
The Upper House, Barlaston – BRONZE
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by RH Advertising
The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – GOLD
Tamworth Castle – SILVER
Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke-on-Trent – BRONZE
Middleport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Tea Room & Coffee Shop of the Year
World of Wedgwood Tea Room – GOLD
Pom’s Kitchen & Deli, Lichfield – SILVER
Denstone Hall Café, near Uttoxeter – Joint BRONZE
Canalside Farm, near Stafford – Joint BRONZE
Ramblers Retreat Country Tea Room, Alton – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Team of the Year, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Forestry England – Forestry Recreation Team, Cannock Chase Forest – GOLD
The Trentham Estate – Events & Operations Team – SILVER
Wetley Moor Alpacas – Walk Leaders – BRONZE
Unsung Hero Award, sponsored by Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group
Mick Thomas, Alton Towers Resort – GOLD
Stephen Wood, The Trentham Estate – SILVER
Lea Sherratt, Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent – BRONZE
