November 2007
> Winners Announced in Moors and Coast Tourism Partnership Awards
Winners Announced in Moors and Coast Tourism Partnership Awards
The winners in the Moors and Coast Tourism Partnership Awards
were announced at a glittering ceremony at the Spa Complex in
Scarborough last night.
Steve Hollingworth, Scarborough Borough Council’s Head of
Tourism and Leisure Services said:
“The winners were well represented from across the Moors and
Coast area and feed back from the evening has been
excellent.”
The results were as follows:
1. Sustainable Tourism Award
Discovery Accommodation (Whitby)
Starfish Accommodation (Whitby) - Winner
Sponsored by: GNER
The judges were very impressed by the holistic approach to
energy conversation by Starfish, and specific highlights included
40 square metres of solar panelling, double flush toilets, constant
water heating to 38°C to avoid the need to add cold water, twin
coiled cylinders and a heat pump. It was also noted that
Starfish and Discovery share energy between the two sites and it is
clearly seen as a very important element of their business
model.
2. Tourism Retail of the Year
Castle Howard (York)
Hunters of Helmsley
Hidden Treasures (Scarborough) - Winner
Dolly’s Deli (Whitby)
Upstairs Downstairs (Thirsk)
Fine Foods of Yorkshire (Easingwold)
Deli No 1 (Easingwold)
Sponsored by: Barclays Bank plc
The judges were very impressed with the variety of products on
offer and the fact that the mystery shopper spent over one hour in
the shop and still wanted to return in the near future. The
service and product range was considered excellent and a really
great place to browse.
3. Café/Bar of the Year
Brambles Café (Scarborough)
Café Heart (Scarborough)
Café View (Scarborough) – Highly Commended
Monks Haven (Whitby)
Dolly’s Deli (Whitby)
Le Chat Noir (Scarborough)
Tea Hee (Easingwold)
Farmhouse Preserves (Crayke) - Winner
Mouseman Visitor Centre Café (Kilburn)
Sponsored by: Scarborough Evening News
Café View in Scarborough was highly commended in this category
with it being a new business providing a real relaxing atmosphere
with an excellent selection of food available. However, the
winner, Farmhouse Preserves in Crayke is set in beautiful well kept
surroundings with excellent home made produce readily available at
a reasonable price.
4. Pub of the Year
The Station Inn (Whitby)
The Blacksmiths Arms (Lastingham) - Winner
The Hare Inn (Scawton, Thirsk)
The Appletree (Marton, Sinnington) – Highly Commended
The Coach House Inn (Pickering)
The Old Oak Tree (South Kilvington)
The Crosby (Thornton-le-Beans)
The Standard (Northallerton)
Sponsored by: Moors and Coast Tourism Partnership
One of the most pleasing aspects highlighted by the judges was
the quality of customer service experience during all visits and
all finalists really wanted guests to have a good time.
Highly commended was the Appletree in Marton, which could be
described as the best gastro pub in the competition. However,
the winner, The Blacksmiths, was described as an absolute gem of a
pub welcoming tourists, walkers and locals alike, with a
traditional bar, cosy snug and loads of character, it consistently
provides a fabulous experience for a range of visitors and sends
people away feeling warmer about the region.
5. Restaurant of the Year (High Volume)
Golden Grid Restaurant (Scarborough) - Winner
Tricolos (Scarborough)
Whinstone View Bistro (Great Ayton) – Highly Commended
Quayside (Whitby)
Sponsored by: Tourism First
Whinstone View Bistro at Great Ayton was highly commended
providing an excellent choice of food, well presented staff and
beautiful surroundings. The Golden Grid received an excellent
score for the overall quality of food, value for money and the
friendliness of the staff.
6. Restaurant of the Year (Special Occasion)
Red Chard Grill Rooms (Whitby)
Peppers (Scarborough)
Kulcha (Scarborough)
Tricolos (Scarborough)
Le Chat Noir (Scarborough) – Highly Commended
Netherby House (Sleights) – Highly Commended
Chapters (Stokesley) - Winner
Whinstone View Bistro (Great Ayton)
Gulshan Tandoori (Stillington)
Sponsored by: McCain Foods (GB) Ltd
This category was once again of an extremely high
standard. Therefore the judges, in addition to the winner
have highly commended Netherby House Restaurant for the excellent
food and service within the hotel and growing its own vegetables,
furthermore Le Chat Noir has also been highly commended for its
varied menu and friendly atmosphere, which has gained great
recognition in Scarborough.
Chapters has won this year due to excellent scoring
throughout all categories, which made it a real special occasion to
savour.
7. Outstanding Customer Service Award
Anne Egley (Crown Spa Hotel)
Paul and Cherryl Watson (Lynton Hotel)
Beckie Hunt (Monks Haven)
Alison Steele (Open Top Bus Guide Coastal & Country
Coaches) - Winner
Sponsored by: Pindar Graphics
All four of the short listed finalists demonstrate outstanding
customer service. However Alison Steele often went the extra
mile by taking visitors, once they had left the bus, back to the
hotels in her own car and also visited customers in their hotel
during their stay after being on the bus visit. Alison is
considered a real asset to the bus company, to Whitby, and the
Moors and Coast area.
8. Visitor Attraction of the Year (under 50,000)
Go Ape (Low Dalby) – Highly Commended
Captain Cook Memorial Museum (Whitby)
Filey Museum – Winner
Elizabeth Steam Bus (Pickering)
Monk Park Farm (Bagby)
Playdale Farm Park (Cayton)
Falconry UK Limited (Kirby Wiske)
Sponsored by: Scarborough Hospitality Association
Go Ape in Low Dalby, was highly commended for its innovative
adventure experience promoting both the forest and outdoor
adventure in the area. Filey Museum is the winner for the
second year running, due to the professionalism and enthusiasm of
the staff, who have worked extremely hard to offer fantastic
service in a difficult year, through the flooding in Filey and
really have demonstrated great spirit and determination.
9. Visitor Attraction of the Year (50,000 and over)
Castle Howard (York)
Stephen Joseph Theatre (Scarborough)
North York Moors Railway (Pickering) – Winner
Eden Camp (Malton) – Highly Commended
Sea Life Centre (Scarborough)
The Moors National Park Centre (Danby)
Sponsored by: Bryn Jones Associates Ltd
This was a highly contested category with so many excellent
attractions here within the Moors and Coasts area. The judges
were impressed with the wealth and quality of our attractions and
it’s something that this area should be proud of.
Eden Camp was highly commended for its excellent
interpretation within this family attraction, while the North York
Moors Railway won because of its excellent customer service and new
service right through to Whitby, linking up many great destinations
throughout the National Park.
10. Caravan Park of the Year
Ladycross Plantation Caravan Park (Egton)
Goosewood Holiday Park (Sutton on the Forest) - Winner
Primrose Valley Holiday Village (Filey)
Sponsored by: Proudfoot Group of Companies
Goosewood Holiday Park provides an excellent 5 star site
delivering excellent customer care and service throughout.
11. Self Catering Holiday Accommodation
Lingholm Court Holiday Cottages (Lebberston)
Walnut Garth Holiday Accommodation (Swinton, Malton)
Lighthouse Cottage (Scarborough) – Highly Commended
Stanhow Farm (Great Langton)
Discovery Accommodation (Whitby) – Winner
Starfish Accommodation (Whitby)
Sponsored by: Moors and Coast Tourism Partnership
This was another strong category with a variety of different
types of accommodation.
Lighthouse Cottage in Scarborough has been highly commended
for its excellent décor and facilities throughout, in a prime
location, while Discovery Accommodation is this year’s winner due
to the professionalism of the business, the excellent quality of
fittings and furnishings and the overall business model.
12. Guest Accommodation of the Year
Broom House (Whitby)
17 Burgate (Pickering)
The Leeway (Whitby)
Grinkle Lodge (Easington) – Highly Commended
Netherby House (Sleights)
No 9 B&B (Pickering) – Winner
Clarence Gardens Hotel (Scarborough)
Apricot Lodge (Pickering) – Highly Commended
Sponsored by: Moors and Coast Tourism Partnership
The judges said that the quality of guest accommodation in the
area has increased significantly over recent years, and we now
offer some of the best accommodation in the country.
Apricot Lodge in Pickering has been highly commended due
to its focus on information and outdoor activities, while Grinkle
Lodge is also highly commended for the excellent accommodation and
the uniqueness of its rooms, which makes the stay at the Lodge
something special. However No 9 B&B has won this year due
to the excellent reviews, from offering tea and cakes on arrival,
chocolates on the pillow and the comment that really won it, was
that the service was better than many of the 5 star hotels in the
country. So very well done to No 9 B&B of
Pickering.
13. Hotel of the Year (up to 50 bedrooms)
Saxonville Hotel (Whitby) – Winner
Beiderbeckes Hotel (Scarborough)
Sponsored by: Matthew Clarke Wholesale Ltd
This is the second year that the Saxonville has won an Award
and therefore this demonstrates its consistently high standard of
service and is a real credit to Whitby and the coast.
14. Hotel of the Year (35 bedrooms and over)
Raven Hall Country House Hotel (Ravenscar) – Highly
Commended
Royal Hotel (Scarborough)
Swallow St Nicholas Hotel (Scarborough)
Crown Spa Hotel (Scarborough) – Winner
Sponsored by: Castle Employment Agency Ltd
The Raven Hall Hotel in Ravenscar has been highly commended in
this category. It is set in a magnificent location, has had
considerable refurbishment and the service from all staff together
with cleanliness was highlighted as excellent. However the
Crown Spa has won this year due to the excellent quality of
refurbishment, the added quality of the amenities, and the
exceptionally high standard of the restaurant, which resulted in
the mystery shopper eating there a second night at their own
expense! So very well done to the Crown Spa and its team in
this hotly contested category.
15. Outstanding Contribution to Tourism
The Chairman of the Moors and Coast Tourism Partnership, Mr Clive
Rowe-Evans, presented this award to Tony Peers.
Tony arrived in Scarborough in 1983 and began a love
affair with the town, which continues to the present day.
His appearances in the Spa season summer shows and
pantomimes established him as a firm favourite with audiences who
returned year after year from all over the country to see his
unique brand of comedy.
He used his frequent appearances on both local and
national television to promote the coast as he described it as “the
most beautiful in the country”. His production company, which
has shows appearing nationwide, bring further recognition to the
area.
Since 2002 when he began producing the summer shows and
pantomimes in his beloved Spa Theatre, he has heightened the
profile of the summer show and it is now recognised within the
tourist industry as amongst the best of its kind.
This year, in what was a difficult season nationally,
the show has produced a 40% increase in admissions over the
previous year. In the time that he has produced the
pantomimes, the attendances have also increased 70%.
Having recently been appointed Chair of the Town Team as
part of Yorkshire Forward’s Renaissance Programme, Tony will
without doubt continue to promote and encourage tourism in the
area.
Sponsored by: Moors and Coast Tourism Partnership