Tourism leaders compete for awards

The seventh annual North West Tourism Awards take place next week to decide the best hotels and attractions in the region.

Organised by the North West Development Agency, the awards event will take place on Wednesday 29 September at The Point, Lancashire County Cricket Club's new £12m conference centre.

Many of the finalists have already come out on top at their sub-regional tourism awards and will now be competing at a regional level for the title of the best in the North West. Regional winners will also represent the North West in the national awards, organised by VisitEngland in 2011.

Nick Brooks-Sykes, director of tourism at the North West Development Agency, said: "Tourism is worth over £14 million to the regional economy, employing over 200,000 people. It continues to be a real good news story for England's Northwest. Our regional Tourism Awards showcase a vast mix of tourism products and experiences, celebrating the best of the best, value for money, attention to detail and a quality visitor experience."

Finalists in the England's Northwest Tourism Awards are winners from each of the sub-regional tourism awards.

The finalists are:

Large Hotel

• Best Western Premier Leyland Hotel, Lancashire
• Best Western Premier Queen Hotel, Cheshire
• The Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Manchester
• Armathwaite Hall Country House Hotel and Spa, Cumbria
• Hope Street Hotel, Merseyside

Small Hotel

• The Midland Hotel, Lancashire
• The Alexandra Court Hotel and Restaurant, Cheshire
• Overwater Hall, Cumbria
• Velvet Hotel, Manchester

Bed & Breakfast

• Number One, South Beach, Lancashire
• Harrop Fold Farm, Cheshire
• Cherry Clough Farmhouse Accommodation, Manchester
• Number 43, Cumbria
• Knowsley Hall, Merseyside

Large Visitor Attraction

• Blackpool Zoo, Lancashire
• Tatton Park, Cheshire
• Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester
• The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, Bowness on Windermere Cumbria
• The Beatles Story, Merseyside

Small Visitor Attraction

• Clitheroe Castle and Museum, Lancashire
• Chester Heritage Tours, Cheshire
• Stockport Airraid Shelters, Manchester
• The Lake District Coast Aquarium, Cumbria
• Acorn Farm, Merseyside

Self Catering

• The Old Shippon at Mellor, Lancashire
• The Courtyard Helsby, Cheshire
• The Atrium by Bridgestreet Worldwide, Manchester
• Tottergill Farm Cottages, Cumbria
• Herons Well, Merseyside

Holiday Park

• Newton Hall Holiday Centre, Lancashire
• Skelwith Fold Caravan Park, Cumbria
• Woodclose Park, Cumbria
• Manor Wood Country Caravan Park, Cheshire

Business Tourism

• Stanley House Hotel, Lancashire
• Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, Cheshire
• Manchester Central Convention Complex, Manchester
• North Lakes Hotel, Cumbria
• Conference Centre at LACE, Merseyside

Taste of England's Northwest

• The Highwayman, Lancashire
• 1539 Restaurant and Bar, Cheshire
• The River Bar and Restaurant at the Lowry Hotel, Manchester
• The Cottage in the Wood, Cumbria
• 60 Hope Street, Merseyside

Tourism Experience

• Go Ape! Rivington, Lancashire
• Shark Dives at Blue Planet Aquarium, Cheshire
• Angels of Anarchy, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester
• Cumbrian Heavy Horses, Cumbria
• Liverpool ONE, Merseyside

Customer Service

• Sandcastle Waterpark Team, Lancashire
• The Alvanley Arms Inn, Cheshire
• Roland Hoffman, the Lowry Hotel, Manchester
• Alan Gillon, the Beacon, Whitehaven, Cumbria
• Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa, Merseyside

Sustainable Tourism Award

• Clough Bottom Farm Cottages, Lancashire
• Chester Zoo, Cheshire
• Manchester International Festival, Manchester
• Elder Grove, Cumbria
• Jurys Inn Liverpool, Merseyside

Tourism for All

• Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Lancashire
• Anderton Boat Lift, Cheshire
• Chill Factore, Manchester
• The Beacon, Whitehaven, Cumbria

Tourism Event

• 1940s Wartime Weekend, East Lancashire Railway, Lancashire
• Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cheshire
• Manchester International Festival, Manchester
• Great North Swim, Cumbria
• A Winter's Trail, Merseyside

Public Space Award

• Workington Town Centre, Cumbria
• Lime Street Gateway, Merseyside
• Towneley Heritage Parkland Restoration, Lancashire
• Dream, Merseyside
• Chester Renaissance, Cheshire

Tourist Information Centre

• Morecambe
• Preston
• Rochdale
• Liverpool John Lennon Airport
• Kendal
• Appleby

For ticketing information call 01925 400 260 or email sharlene.mcateer@nwda.co.uk