Small attractions see major rewards as visitor numbers grow

The White Rose Awards, which has been running for more than 20 years and is organised by tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire, will see an impressive 90 finalists compete across 16 categories.

More than 1,000 people have booked their place for the black-tie evening at the Yorkshire Event Centre, which will feature a menu designed by the region's Michelin star chefs.

The Yorkshire Post is sponsoring the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year award, where Barley Hall, York, Harrogate Turkish Baths and Health Spa, Kirklees Light Railway, Scampston Walled Gardens, Standedge Tunnel and Visitor Centre and Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens and Nursery are finalists. Small attractions in the region are one of the year's success stories with visitor numbers soaring.

York's medieval house Barley Hall has had a strong year, with latest figures showing an average 14 per cent rise in visitors over the period of February to August 2010, compared to last year. It had an exceptional March, attracting 62 per cent more visitors than in 2009.

Kirklees Light Railway, where you can ride narrow gauge steam engines on a four-mile countryside track, also saw its visitor figures rise by 56 per cent this June, compared to last year – as well as an increase of 19 per cent in February.

Standedge Tunnel in Marsden, Huddersfield, which is the highest, longest and deepest canal tunnel in the UK, had an excellent summer, with June 2010 visitors up 56 per cent year-on-year, and a strong rise in July of 37 per cent on the same month last year.

Harrogate's Victorian Turkish Baths and Health Spa saw visits increase during summer 2010 compared to 2009, with a 21 per cent increase in June.

Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens and Nursery, set in the grounds of an 18th century farmhouse near York, also had a great summer – with visitor numbers almost doubling compared to 2009.

The Walled Garden at Scampston in Malton, North Yorkshire, opened its house – Scampston Hall – for an extra two months this year, held an additional plant fair in the autumn and added a new children's adventure trail, which has attracted more people to the site.

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Gary Verity said: "Tonight's awards are all about recognising and celebrating Yorkshire's finest tourism offerings, no matter how great or small.

"This summer has born out some excellent news in terms of how well the county's attractions are faring.

"We have heard of increases of more than 50 per cent at some of the small attractions, which is outstanding and a true testament to their passion and dedication to enhancing the visitor experience. This is a multi-billion pound industry to which their contribution is invaluable."

Entries have been judged by a panel chaired by Barbara Woroncow OBE who complimented the standard.

"It is never easy to create a shortlist when the overall quality of submissions is of such an excellent standard," she said.

"What is certain is that the finalist list really does represent some of our very best tourism attractions across the county, accommodation and experiences, from glamping to castles and mazes."

THE FINALISTS COMPETING FOR 16 AWARDS...

Bed and Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year

Kilham Hall Country House, 17 Burgate, Clow Beck House, Cundall Lodge Farm, Moorlands Country House, Elder Lea House

Small Hotel/Townhouse of the Year

Hazlewood Castle Hotel, the Feversham Arms Hotel & Verbena Spa, Wentbridge House Hotel, Hotel du Vin and Bistro York

Large Hotel of the Year

Best Western Premier Mount Pleasant Hotel, Crown Spa Hotel, Oulton Hall, the Leopold Hotel, Sheffield, the Royal York Hotel & Events Centre, Leeds Marriott Hotel

Taste of Yorkshire Award

The Black Swan at Oldstead, Artisan Restaurant, Silversmiths Restaurant, Cedarbarn Farm Shop and Cafe, the Black Swan Tearoom and Patisserie, the Georgian Restaurant at Wood Hall Hotel & Spa

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year

Barley Hall, York, Harrogate Turkish Baths and Health Spa, Standedge Tunnel & Visitor Centre,

Kirklees Light Railway, Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens and Nursery, Walled Garden at Scampston

Large Visitor Attraction

Eureka! The National Children's Museum, Jorvik Viking Centre, Lightwater Valley Theme Park, Museums Sheffield: Weston Park, RHS Garden Harlow Carr, York Castle Museum (York Museums Trust)

Yorkshire Pub of the Year

The Butchers Arms, The Grouse Inn, The Milestone, The New Inn and Cropton Brewery, The Shoulder of Mutton and the Shoulder Shop, the Star @ Sancton

Access for All Tourism Award

The Royal York Hotel and Events Centre, the Alhambra Theatre, The Deep, Yorkshire Waterways Museum

Sustainable Tourism Award

Home Grown Home, Old Cragg Hall Barn, RHS Garden Harlow Carr, the Dovecote Barns, the Leeway

Self Catering, Cruisers and Serviced Apartments Award

Crow Hill Country House Estates, Old Cragg Hall Barn, Residence 6 Leeds, the Dovecote Barns, The Lawrance, The Sands Seafront Apartments

Business Tourism Award

Shine, Weetwood Hall Conference Centre & Hotel, National Railway Museum, Sheffield International Venues, Conferencing and Events, Well Met Conferencing, Leeds Metropolitan University, Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Caravan Holiday Park and Holiday Village Award

Brompton Lakes, Burton Constable Holiday Park and Arboretum, Faweather Grange, Primrose Valley Holiday Park, Nostell Priory Holiday Park

Outstanding Customer Service

The Royal York Hotel and Events Centre (Denise Walker, Business Centre Manager), Royal Armouries (International) plc at Royal Armouries Museum and Saviles Hall (Nkosilathi Tshuma), Visit Hull & East Yorkshire (Freelance tour guide Paul Schofield), The Met (The Conference Team), Jorvik Viking Centre (Gillian Pool), Millers Tea Room and Farm Shop (nominated: Millers Tea Room and Farm Shop team)

Tourism Event of the Year

York Archaeological Trust – 25th Annual Jorvik Viking Festival; Visit Hull & East Yorkshire, Hull City Council and Clipper Ventures – Freedom and the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race; Sheffield International Venues – Sports Personality of the Year; Wakefield Council – Wakefield Festival of Food, Drink and Rhubarb; YCCC Ashes Festival – the Ashes Festival; Harrogate International Festivals – Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival

Visitor Information Award

Hull Tourist Information Centre, Humber Bridge Tourist Information Centre, Leeds Visitor Centre, Malton Tourist Information Centre, Pickering Tourist Information Centre, Wakefield Tourist Information Centre/Wakefield Council

Best Tourism Experience of the Year

Heritage Inspired, Jollydays Luxury Camping,

York Maze, the Ebor Festival, Frightwater Valley, Xscape