Honours handed out at regional tourism awards’ gala night

More than 350 guests attended a gala evening at The Country Park Inn, Hessle hosted by comedian Steve Frost for the Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Awards, now in their third year.

Burton Agnes Hall – which is known for its 17th century carvings and fine collection of modern paintings, bronzes, furniture and porcelain – won best tourism attraction.

Judges said it was “an impressive visitor attraction in itself but enhances that with a year-round programme of event that offers something for everyone” and praised its “very professional and friendly” staff.

Wold Newton-based Wold Top Brewery, which has been supplying real ales to the Royal Academy’s restaurant since January, when David Hockney’s A Bigger Picture opened, won the Remarkable Fare category.

Remarkable Cuppa went to Millers Tea Room and Farm Shop, at Raywell, for the third year running, while Beverley Festival of Christmas won the Remarkable Tourism Event, with the record-breaking David Hockney exhibition at the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull highly commended.

Dr David Neave, the author and historian from Beverley, who wrote a city guide on Hull with wife Susan and helped raise £650,000 to restore the church at Warter, won the Remarkable East Yorkshire Passion award, for outstanding personal contribution to tourism.

The Star@Sancton won both the Remarkable Taste and Remarkable Pub awards.

Visit Hull and East Yorkshire received over 100 nominations and the 40 on the shortlist were visited anonymously before a panel of experts made the final decision. The Passion award was chosen by the VHEY board, who praised Dr Neave’s tireless promotion of the area through publications, talks, walks and exhibitions.

Janet Reuben, outgoing chief executive of Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, said: “Congratulations to all our REYTA winners and finalists! The quality and variety of the finalists was exceptional and reflects the strength of the tourism industry in Hull and East Yorkshire.

“The standard of finalists was so high that the judges had an almost impossible task in choosing the overall winners.”

The awards are self-funding thanks to ticket sales and sponsors.

It is estimated tourism is worth £615m to the region.