Larkin’s toads hop off with a silver tourism award
A QUIRKY and popular public arts project launched in memory of the poet Philip Larkin has received a tourism award, beating off competition from the Aintree Grand National, Bristol International Balloon Festival, and London Polo in the Park among others.
Larkin With Toads, which saw 40 larger-than-life fibreglass toads placed around Hull as part of a series of events to mark the 25th anniversary of the poet’s death, won Silver in the Best Tourism Event of the Year category at the Visit England Awards for Excellence 2012. The Gold winner in that category was The Tall Ships Race 2010 Hartlepool.
East Riddlesden Hall near Keighley was among the winners elsewhere in the competition, taking Gold for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year and Fodder in Harrogate was awarded Gold in the Taste of England award.
Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “It is fantastic that Yorkshire has been recognised in this way.”