Current champions are going head to head with first-time finalists in the battle to be crowned the “best of the best” at this year’s Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Awards.
The much-anticipated shortlist of finalists, revealed today by Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY), is being described as “the most exciting ever”. Tourism bosses say it’s testament to the popularity of the region as a visitor destination and the range of what’s on offer.
In total, 78 businesses and attractions will be represented at the glittering awards night at Bridlington Spa on Thursday, March 19. This year is the 11th time the awards have been held but for the first time they are being run in association with the national Visit England Awards and eligible winners will be automatically put forward to the national Visit England Awards for Excellence 2020.
Will Hall, interim tourism manager for Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, said they had been “stunned” by the quality of entries. “Tourism plays such an important part in making Hull and East Yorkshire such a wonderful place to live and visit. The feedback we get from day visitors and holidaymakers makes us proud and shows just how far we have come since the first awards were held eleven years ago.
“This is a remarkable event to celebrate a remarkable industry which contributes over £866 million annually to the Hull and East Yorkshire economy and provides employment for over 18,000 people. The awards showcase the very best that Hull and East Yorkshire have to offer,” he said.
In total, seven current champions have made it through to the finals again when 16 awards will be presented, including one bestowed by the VHEY Board, honouring an individual who has made a significant contribution to tourism in the region.
Elaine Townend, owner of The Toll Cottage in Cottingham, is hoping to be named B&B and Guest House of the Year for the third successive time and is no stranger to REYTAs glory over its 11-year history, having also won the “best cuppa” category four times when she owned Millers Tea Room at Raywell.
“Being judged remarkable, being judged the best, puts us in a special place. It gives people the confidence to pick up the phone or send an email to make that booking. They want a guarantee they are going to enjoy the perfect stay and our status as award-winning accommodation is that guarantee,” she said.
“And with the chance this year to go on and compete in the Visit England national finals this time around makes the REYTAs even more important.”
There’s no shortage of newcomers, though, and a new business, Rustic Riddle, based at Manor House Farm in Ulrome, between Beverley and Bridlington, is short-listed in three categories – new tourism business and a best cuppa (for their Granary cafe and bakery) and best restaurant, for the Parisi Restaurant.
Owned by Karen Riddle, there’s also a gift shop and two-holiday cottages based at the farm.
Flamborough’s New Year’s Eve Fire Festival, which has attracted more than 15,000 visitors from all over the country to witness the torchlight procession, fireworks display and the burning of a Viking longship, is also through to the final of the Remarkable Tourism Event of the Year, where it is up against last year’s winner, Humber Street Sesh, plus two other Hull festivals (Freedom and Pride) and Tribfest, the world’s biggest tribute band music festival, which is held annually in the grounds of Sledmere House.
As well as Parisi Restaurant, another new name bidding to be named Restaurant of the Year is Rupert & Darwin in Princes Avenue, Hull (also a finalist in the new tourism category).
Rupert & Darwin is the brainchild of friends and business partners James and Beth MacLeod-Birch, and David and Raeann Rooms, who have had a long-standing collective ambition to bring their own unique take on friendly and accessible dining to life. James is well-known on the local dining scene as a former director of 1884 Dock Street Kitchen, who then went on to open Steak/1884.
And another notable newcomer is the mobile phone app, What Was Here?, developed by East Riding Archives that turns smartphones and tablets into virtual time machines.
Using historical photographs from the archives, plotted on to a Google Maps base, it shows users literally “what was here” at locations across the county. It also features heritage trails that guide users to various points of interest.
Councillor Shaun Horton, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s portfolio holder for tourism, culture and leisure, said:
“I am absolutely delighted to see that around 30 of these shortlisted venues are in the East Riding, and I send my congratulations to every single one of them on reaching this stage, which is an achievement in itself. It is particularly pleasing to see such a wide range of destinations reflected in the list, from Stamford Bridge across to Tunstall. Good luck to all the venues involved!”
Meanwhile, Councillor Dave Craker, portfolio holder for culture, leisure and tourism at Hull City Council, said: “The REYTA awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the vibrant and booming tourism offer in the region. I would like to wish all of the nominee’s luck for the evening, they’re all fantastic examples of what our city and region has to offer.”
REMARKABLE EAST YORKSHIRE TOURISM AWARDS FINALISTS 2020
Remarkable Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
Broadgate Farm Cottages, Walkington
Hull Truck Theatre
Hull Minster
Remarkable B&B and Guest House of the Year
The Wold Cottage, Wold Newton
The Toll Cottage, Cottingham
Newbegin House, Beverley
Wolds Village, Bainton
Remarkable Business Events Venue of the Year
Hallmark Hotel, North Ferriby
Bonus Arena, Hull
Mercure Hull Grange Park Hotel, Willerby
Tigers Events at the KCOM Stadium, Hull
Bishop Burton College
DoubleTree by Hilton, Hull
Remarkable Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
Sand le Mer, Tunstall
Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges, Bishop Wilton
South Cliff Holiday Park, Bridlington
Manor Farm Camping, Woodmansey
Butt Farm Caravan & Campsite, Beverley
Remarkable Cuppa
The Granary at Rustic Riddle, Ulrome
Drewtons Farm Shop and Restaurant, South Cave
The Balloon Tree Farmshop & Cafe, Gate Helmsley
Wolds Village, Bainton
White Rabbit Chocolatiers, Beverley
Remarkable Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award
Broadgate Farm Cottages, Walkington
William’s Den, North Cave
Bridlington Animal Park
Yorkshire Water Tophill Low Nature Reserve, near Watton
Remarkable Experience of the Year
Hotham’s Gin School, Hull
What Was Here? mobile app, Beverley
Atom Brewing Co, Hull
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust at Spurn Point
Oresome Jewellery, Hull
Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail
Remarkable Hotel of the Year
Hallmark Hotel, North Ferriby
Saltmarshe Hall, Saltmarshe, near Howden
Mercure Hull Grange Park Hotel, Willerby
DoubleTree by Hilton, Hull
Loftsome Bridge Hotel, Wressle
Cave Castle Hotel & Country Club, South Cave
Village Hotel, Hull
Remarkable Local Producer Award
Hotham’s Distillery, Hull
Wold Top Brewery, Hunmanby
Cherry View Milk, Cherry Burton
Atom Brewing Co, Hull
Soanes Poultry, Middleton on the Wolds
Humber Street Distillery Co, Hull
Remarkable New Tourism Business Award
Bonus Arena, Hull
Wolds Way Holiday Cottages, Cottingham
Rupert & Darwin, Hull
The Granary at Rustic Riddle, Ulrome
What Was Here? mobile app, Beverley
Bridlington Escape
Remarkable Pub of the Year
The Lion and Key, Hull
The Ship Inn, Sewerby
Atom Brewing Co @ The Corn Exchange, Hull
The Minerva, Hull
The Old House, Hull
Remarkable Restaurant Award
Rustics, Bridlington
Rupert & Darwin, Hull
Parisi Restaurant, Ulrome
Ambiente Tapas, Hull
Tapasya @ Marina, Hull
Humber Fish Co, Hull
Remarkable Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
Broadgate Farm Cottages, Walkington
Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges, Bishop Wilton
Grange Farm Cottages, Wressle
Wolds Way Holiday Cottages, Cottingham
North Kingsfield Holiday Cottages, Bridlington
Bessingby Mews Holiday Cottages, Bridlington
Remarkable Tourism Event of the Year
Freedom Festival, Hull
Pride in Hull, Hull
Tribfest, Sledmere
Humber Street Sesh, Hull
Flamborough Fire Festival
Remarkable Visitor Attraction of the Year
William’s Den, North Cave
Sewerby Hall and Gardens
Bridlington Escape
Sledmere House
