White Rose Awards highlight best of Yorkshire’s tourism industry

THE very best of Yorkshire’s tourism industry was celebrated at the glittering White Rose Awards ceremony last night, with 16 of the county’s hotels, restaurants, pubs and attractions collecting the prestigious accolades.

The awards, organised by tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire, are the largest in the UK and attracted nearly a thousand people to Doncaster Racecourse; 94 finalists went head-to-head over 16 categories in the largest event to date.

The Black Swan at Oldstead was named Yorkshire Restaurant of the Year by the panel of judges, completing a memorable week in which it also received a first Michelin Star.

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The Crown Inn at Great Ouseburn, near York, won Pub of the Year, with the judges recognising its cuisine, selection of fine ales and homely atmosphere.

Fodder, of Harrogate, picked up the Taste of Yorkshire Award for it’s extensive range of the region’s produce.

Rudding Park, near Harrogate and Swinton Park, Masham, won the Large and Small Hotel of the Year respectively.

The Sands Apartments in Scarborough took the honours in the Self-Catering category, with Kilham Hall Country House, at Driffield, winning the B&B/Guesthouse award. Scarborough’s Crown Spa Hotel also scooped the Sustainable Tourism Award.

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Two caravan parks were winners as well, with Faweather Grange at High Eldwick winning the Caravan Park category and Robin Hood Caravan and Camping Park near York taking the Outstanding Customer Service Award.

Many of the county’s premier tourist attractions were also celebrating.

Cannon Hall Farm at Cawthorne, near Barnsley, won the Tourism Experience of the Year Award and Yorkshire Sculpture Park near Wakefield took the Business Tourism Award.

East Riddlesden Hall near Keighley, and Newby Hall and Gardens near Ripon were named Small and Large Tourist Attraction of the Year respectively.

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Hull’s Larkin with Toads event was also a winner after raising £50,000 for good causes during the course of a year commemorating the life of poet Philip Larkin, who died 25 years ago.

Harrogate Tourist Information Centre won the Visitor Information Award, seeing off competition from five similar centres in the region.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “The awards evening is a spectacularly glittering affair and a real celebration of all that’s amazing about Yorkshire tourism.

“The judges struggled to draw up a finalists list and choosing the winners from such a wonderful selection of quality entries was a tough task.

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“Those who took home a prized White Rose Award should be incredibly proud. Congratulations to everyone who took part and made this the tourism night of the year.” Yorkshire bucked national tourism trends with a 16 per cent increase in holiday visits in the first half of the year, compared with a three per cent decrease nationally.

Spending by overseas visitors also soared over the summer months – from £33m to £59m in just two years.

Barbara Woroncow, chair of the independent judging panel, said: “Yet again, we have had a record number of entries for the White Rose Awards. However, it is not the quantity that has impressed us but the quality.

“Congratulations to the 16 winners who are a perfect example of how standards have gone up significantly across all sectors of Yorkshire’s strong and diverse tourism industry.”

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The winners from this year’s awards will go through to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in 2012.

Restaurant of the Year

The Black Swan at Oldstead, Coxwold.

Taste of Yorkshire Award

Fodder, Harrogate.

Yorkshire Pub of the Year

The Crown Inn, Great Ouseburn.

Self-catering, cruisers and Serviced Apartments

The Sands Seafront Apartments, Scarborough.

Large Hotel of the Year

Rudding Park, Harrogate.

Small Hotel/Townhouse

Swinton Park, Masham.

B&B/Guest Accommodation

Kilham Hall Country House Accommodation, Driffield.

Caravan Holiday Park/Holiday Village

Faweather Grange, High Eldwick.

Sustainable Tourism Award

Crown Spa Hotel, Scarborough.

Tourism Experience of the Year

Cannon Hall Farm, Cawthorne near Barnsley.

Tourism Event of the Year

Larkin with Toads, Hull.

Business Tourism Award

Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield.

Visitor Information

Harrogate Tourist Information Centre.

Large Visitor Attraction

Newby Hall and Gardens, Ripon.

Small Visitor Attraction

East Riddlesden Hall, near Keighley.

Outstanding Customer Service

Robin Hood Caravan and Camping Park, Slingsby.