The county’s best tourism and hospitality venues have been crowned at this year’s Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism & Good Food Awards.
The annual event, in its 10th year this year, had awards up for grabs in 19 categories and received over 140 entries.
A black-tie awards dinner was held at the National Memorial Arboretum, in Alrewas, last night and was attended by more than 300 guests.
Alton Towers Resort, The Brampton Museum, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and The Trentham Estate all took home a host of awards.
An extra award, for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in Staffordshire, was presented to the Evans family of Denstone Hall Farm Shop and Café, near Uttoxeter, in recognition of their unwavering commitment to protecting the environment and supporting local food and drink producers.
A spokesperson said: “This accolade comes as a wonderful surprise in what has been a year of both challenges and triumphs.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported us – our amazing team, our loyal customers, and the vibrant community that makes Staffordshire such a wonderful place to visit and do business.”
The competition is one of 16 affiliated to the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2024 and gold winners from 16 eligible categories will now go on to the national awards being held in June.
Last year the National Memorial Arboretum – which won two awards last night – picked up a hat trick of honours and its events facility Aspects went on to win the title of England’s Business Events Venue of the Year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2023, as reported by Daily Focus.
This year’s Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism & Good Food Awards were headline sponsored by Staffordshire University and consisted of two rounds of judging, including mystery visits in some categories.
Philip White, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for tourism at Staffordshire County Council, said: “This is our tenth awards now and once again it’s fantastic to be able to celebrate our amazing tourism sector.
“We’re attraction central, the biggest and best playground in the country and I’m incredibly proud of our tourism offer and everyone working in the sector. I would like to say a huge congratulations to all our winners and those highly commended and a big thanks to the National Memorial Arboretum for hosting the event.
“Tourism continues to boom here in Staffordshire, generating an estimated £2.3 billion for the local economy and employing thousands of people. This is due to the hard work and determination of our hospitality businesses to provide excellent and memorable visitor experiences.
“Once again a huge well done to the sector and good luck to our winners who now go forward to the national VisitEngland awards.”
The full list of winners is:
| Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award, sponsored by We Are Staffordshire: Gold – National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas. Silver – Alton Towers Resort. Bronze – The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme. | B&B/Guest House of the Year: Gold – Eagle House, Eccleshall. Silver – Black Lion Inn, Butterton, near Leek. Bronze – St John’s House, Lichfield. |
| Business Events Venue of the Year: Gold – Keele University Events & Conferencing, Keele. Silver – Aston Marina, Stone. Bronze – The Brampton Museum, Newcastle – under -Lyme. | Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year: Gold – Duck Goose, Leek. Silver – Thyme Kitchen, Lichfield. Bronze – The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer. |
| Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award, sponsored by Staffordshire University: Gold – National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas. Silver – Alton Towers Resort. Joint Bronze – Hoar Cross Hall, near Burton upon Trent. Joint Bronze – Eagle House, Eccleshall. Joint Highly Commended – The Trentham Estate, Trentham. Joint Highly Commended – The Brampton Museum, Newcastle – under – Lyme. | Experience of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire University: Gold – Gin Still Experience, Nelson’s Distillery & School, near Uttoxeter. Silver – Throw A Pot Experience, LoveClay Studio, Stoke-on-Trent. Bronze – Alpaca Trekking, Wetley Moor Alpacas, near Stoke-on-Trent. Highly Commended – Photography Workshop, Chappers Photography, Abbots Bromley. |
| Food & Drink Retailer or Farm Shop of the Year: Gold – Canalside Farm Shop, Great Haywood, near Stafford. Silver – Denstone Hall Farm Shop, Denstone, near Uttoxeter. Bronze – The Titanic Brewery Shop, Stoke-on-Trent. | Independent Restaurant of the Year: Gold – The Flintlock at Cheddleton, near Leek. Joint Silver – FEASTED, Stoke-on-Trent. Joint Silver Granary Restaurant at Weston Park, Weston-under-Lizard. Joint Bronze – Hoar Cross Hall, near Burton upon Trent. Joint Bronze – Little Seeds, Stone. Highly Commended –Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent. |
| Large Hotel of the Year, sponsored by Service Science: Gold – Hoar Cross Hall, near Burton upon Trent. Silver – Doubletree by Hilton, Stoke-on-Trent. Joint Bronze – Drayton Manor Hotel, Drayton Manor Resort, Tamworth. Joint Bronze – CBeebies Land Hotel, Alton Towers Resort. | Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by Pear OOH. Gold – Alton Towers Resort. Silver – National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas. Joint Bronze – The Trentham Estate, Trentham. Joint Bronze – World of Wedgwood, Barlaston. Joint Highly Commended – Drayton Manor Resort, Tamworth. Joint Highly Commended – Emma Bridgewater Factory, Stoke-on-Trent. |
| New Tourism Business of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire County Council: Gold – The Play Barn @ Round Meadows Farm, Wetley Rocks. Silver – The Boat House Kitchen & Bakery by Pom’s, Barton Marina, Barton under Needwood. Bronze – Bobobo, Stafford. Highly Commended – The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer. | Pub of the Year: Gold –The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone. Silver – Black Lion Inn, Butterton, near Leek. Bronze – The Star at Cotton, near Cheadle. Highly Commended – The Bank House, Hixon, near Stafford. |
| Rising Star, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent College: Gold – Paige Burnham – Doubletree by Hilton, Stoke-on-Trent. Silver – Harvey Tweats – The Trentham Estate, Trentham. Bronze – Cameron Sutton – World of Wedgwood, Barlaston. Highly Commended – Lucy Fletcher – Duck Goose, Leek. | Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year, sponsored by Foster for Staffordshire. Gold – Weston Park Holiday Cottages, Weston-under-Lizard. Silver – Ford Wetley Cottage, near Leek. Bronze – The Apartment, Eagle House, Eccleshall. |
| Small Hotel of the Year, sponsored by Stephensons Catering Supplies. Gold – Walnut House at The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone. Silver – Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent. Bronze – The Upper House Hotel, Barlaston. | Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by R H Advertising: Gold – The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Silver – Tamworth Castle, Tamworth. Bronze – Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke-on-Trent. Highly Commended – Middleport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent. |
| Tea Room & Coffee Shop of the Year: Gold – World of Wedgwood Tea Room, Barlaston. Silver – Pom’s Kitchen & Deli, Lichfield. Joint Bronze – Canalside Farm Café, Great Haywood, near Stafford. Joint Bronze – Denstone Hall Farm Café, Denstone, near Uttoxeter. Highly Commended – Ramblers Retreat Country Tea Room, Alton. | Team of the Year, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent City Council: Gold – Forestry England – Forestry Recreation Team, Cannock Chase Forest. Silver – The Trentham Estate – Events & Operations Team. Bronze – Wetley Moor Alpacas – Walk Leaders. |
| Unsung Hero, sponsored by Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group: Gold – Mick Thomas – Alton Towers Resort. Silver – Stephen Wood – The Trentham Estate, Trentham. Bronze – Lea Sherratt – Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent. |
- Applications are still open for the 2024 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards. For more information, read the Daily Focus story here.
