More than 40 of the county’s best tourism and hospitality businesses have been shortlisted for this year’s Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism & Good Food Awards.
Following a rigorous independent judging process, over 140 entries from across the county have been whittled down to help decide the shortlist of finalists in 19 categories.
The winners will be announced at a black-tie awards ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum, in Alrewas, on Thursday, 14 March.
Last year’s awards saw over 95 entries received, with the National Memorial Arboretum picking up a hat trick of honours.
Its success saw it longlisted for the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2023, where its events facility Aspects won the title of England’s Business Events Venue of the Year, as reported by Daily Focus.
Many of the ‘Gold’ winners from the 2024 Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism & Good Awards will progress to represent Staffordshire at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in June.
The finalists are:
| Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award, sponsored by We Are Staffordshire: – Alton Towers Resort. – The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme. – National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas. | B&B/Guest House of the Year: – Black Lion Inn, Butterton, near Leek. – Eagle House, Eccleshall. – St John’s House, Lichfield. |
| Business Events Venue of the Year: – Aston Marina, Stone. – The Brampton Museum. – Keele University Events & Conferencing, Keele. | Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year: – Duck Goose, Leek. – The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer. – Thyme Kitchen, Lichfield. |
| Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award, sponsored by Staffordshire University: – Alton Towers Resort. – Black Lion Inn, Butterton, near Leek. – Eagle House, Eccleshall. – Hoar Cross Hall, near Burton upon Trent. – National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas. – The Trentham Estate, Trentham. | Experience of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire University: – Alpaca Trekking, Wetley Moor Alpacas, near Stoke-on-Trent. – Gin Still Experience, Nelson’s Distillery & School, near Uttoxeter. – Photography Workshop, Chappers Photography, Abbots Bromley. – Throw A Pot Experience, LoveClay Studio, Stoke-on-Trent. |
| Food & Drink Retailer or Farm Shop of the Year: – Canalside Farm Shop, Great Haywood, near Stafford. – Denstone Hall Farm Shop, Denstone, near Uttoxeter. – The Titanic Brewery Shop, Stoke-on-Trent. | Independent Restaurant of the Year: – Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent. – FEASTED, Stoke-on-Trent. – The Flintlock at Cheddleton, near Leek. – Granary Restaurant at Weston Park, Weston-under-Lizard. – Hoar Cross Hall, near Burton upon Trent. – Little Seeds, Stone. |
| Large Hotel of the Year: – CBeebies Land Hotel, Alton Towers Resort. – Doubletree by Hilton, Stoke-on-Trent. – Drayton Manor Hotel, Drayton Manor Resort, Tamworth. – Hoar Cross Hall, near Burton upon Trent. | Large Visitor Attraction of the Year: – Alton Towers Resort. – Drayton Manor Resort, Tamworth. – Emma Bridgewater Factory, Stoke-on-Trent. – National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas. – The Trentham Estate, Trentham. – World of Wedgwood, Barlaston. |
| New Tourism Business of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire County Council: – The Boat House Kitchen & Bakery by Pom’s, – Barton Marina, Barton under Needwood. – Bobobo, Stafford. – The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer. – The Play Barn @ Round Meadows Farm, Wetley Rocks. | Pub of the Year: – The Bank House, Hixon, near Stafford. – Black Lion Inn, Butterton, near Leek. – The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone. – The Star at Cotton, near Cheadle. |
| Rising Star, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent College: – Cameron Sutton – World of Wedgwood, Barlaston. – Harvey Tweats – The Trentham Estate, Trentham. – Lucy Fletcher – Duck Goose, Leek. – Paige Burnham – Doubletree by Hilton, Stoke-on-Trent. | Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year: – The Apartment, Eagle House, Eccleshall. – Ford Wetley Cottage, near Leek. – Weston Park Holiday Cottages, Weston-under-Lizard. |
| Small Hotel of the Year: – Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent. – The Upper House Hotel, Barlaston. – Walnut House at The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone. | Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by R H Advertising: – The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme. – Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke-on-Trent. – Middleport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent. – Tamworth Castle, Tamworth. |
| Tea Room & Coffee Shop of the Year: – Canalside Farm Café, Great Haywood, near Stafford. – Denstone Hall Farm Café, Denstone, near Uttoxeter. – Pom’s Kitchen & Deli, Lichfield. – Ramblers Retreat Country Tea Room, Alton. – World of Wedgwood Tea Room, Barlaston. | Team of the Year, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent City Council: – Forestry England – Forestry Recreation Team, Cannock Chase Forest. – The Trentham Estate – Events & Operations Team. – Wetley Moor Alpacas – Walk Leaders. |
| Unsung Hero, sponsored by Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group: – Lea Sherratt – Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent. – Mick Thomas – Alton Towers Resort. – Stephen Wood – The Trentham Estate, Trentham. |
The awards scheme is celebrating its 10th year this year and is sponsored by Staffordshire University.
Philip White, Cabinet Member with responsibility for tourism at Staffordshire County Council said: “The Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism and Good Food Awards are all about celebrating our amazing hospitality and tourism businesses and the people working in them.
“The competition is a great way of promoting the diverse range of providers, attractions and businesses that continue to deliver outstanding customer experiences.
“I’d like to congratulate all those businesses shortlisted in this year’s awards and wish them the best of luck in the final.”
- Applications are now open for the 2024 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards. For more information, read the Daily Focus story here.
