Harrogate district hotels and attractions amongst Welcome to Yorkshire White Rose Awards winners
and live on Freeview channel 276
The social event was a big hit online with 624,139 social media impressions and 11,896 social engagements for the night.
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Hide AdWelcome to Yorkshire’s Chief Executive James Mason said: “These are incredibly impressive White Rose Awards figures and it goes to show the importance of celebrating and showcasing Yorkshire tourism to a wide audience, to not only inspire all and encourage support of local businesses in tricky times, but to also ensure that Yorkshire is at the forefront of everyone’s minds to visit, live, work, study … and enjoy, in accordance with Government guidelines.
"The exceptional evening brought the county together and I’m incredibly proud of the Welcome to Yorkshire team who brilliantly organised the event whilst facing challenging Covid-19 circumstances, praise indeed also to the exceptional Yorkshire businesses who entered and to all the winners, the event sponsors, the wonderful celebrity guests and to everyone who joined in the celebrations online.
"The positivity and sheer determination to continue doing what Yorkshire does best is an absolute inspiration and an incredible incentive to all to keep calm, carry on and make 2021 a huge success for the county and all tourism businesses.”
A number of Harrogate attractions, accommodation providers and businesses were crowned during the ceremony.
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Hide AdGrantley Hall in Ripon won gold at the 'Large Hotel of the Year' category, with Harrogate's The Yorkshire Hotel bagging silver. Grantley Hall also won the 'New Tourism Business' award.
It was good news for the district in the 'Small Visitor Attraction of the Year' category, with Mother Shipton's Cave in Knaresborough securing silver and Studfold Adventure Trail in Lofthouse receiving bronze.
The annual White Rose Awards are the biggest celebration of tourism in the UK and take place each year at a huge Yorkshire event location, with 2019’s awards being held at the First Direct Arena Leeds.
However, due to the coronavirus crisis and lockdown, the 2020 awards ceremony, sponsored by York City Knights, was held virtually for the first time ever.
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Hide AdYork City Knights Chairman Jon Flatman said: “It’s always a great pleasure to work with the team at Welcome to Yorkshire and it was an honour for York City Knights to sponsor the prestigious White Rose Awards. The county has so much to offer and during such a tough year for all, it was amazing to celebrate so many success stories with some top tourism businesses. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening of exciting entertainment and inspiring examples of business brilliance, and great to see the social media interaction throughout too.”
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Online special celebrity guests included Yorkshire legend Chris Kamara and Hollyoaks actress and singer Bethannie Hare, both appeared on screen with White Rose Award messages and shared performances of their latest song releases.
Calderdale comedians Pete Emmett and Lea Roberts provided the laughter as they performed outdoors at the spectacular The Piece Hall in Halifax and there were some fabulous congratulatory messages on the night from Yorkshire Shepherdess and star of Our Yorkshire Farm Amanda Owen, All Creatures Great and Small actor Nicholas Ralph, Paralympian Hannah Cockcroft and writer and TV personality Dr Amir Khan.
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Hide AdReturning for another year to host the White Rose Awards, it was a pleasure to welcome back Yorkshire’s very own Natalie Anderson and Rich Williams who presented gold, silver and bronze awards in 17 categories to top Yorkshire businesses and organisations in the tourism and hospitality sector, recognising the very best accommodation, attractions, food and drink, produce, arts and culture.
White Rose Awards Chair of Judges Elaine Lemm added: “What fun it was to spend the evening celebrating the best of Yorkshire tourism and hospitality from my sitting room. It may have been a bit different to how we normally celebrate, but even remotely, the enthusiasm and joy of the winners on their zoom calls was so wonderful to be a part of and well-done Welcome to Yorkshire for making it happen.”
If you missed the White Rose Awards live or want to enjoy the experience again. Watch at: https://wra.yorkshire.com/
Full list of winners:
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
GOLD Cottage in the Dales, Leyburn
SILVER JORVIK Viking Centre
BRONZE Leeds Playhouse
Arts & Culture Award
GOLD The Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
SILVER Harewood House Trust
BRONZE Selby District Council (Selby 950)
B&B and Guest House of the Year
GOLD Brickfields Farm, Kirkbymoorside
SILVER Orchard Lodge, Scarborough
BRONZE Cawthorne House, Pickering
Business Events Venue of the Year
GOLD The Grand, York
SILVER Lakeside Conference Centre (part of York Biotech Campus)
BRONZE Mercure Barnsley Tankersley Manor
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
GOLD High Oaks Grange, Pickering
SILVER Brompton Lakes, Richmond
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Hide AdBRONZE Catgill Farm - Camping and Luxury Glamping, Bolton Abbey
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award
GOLD National Centre for Birds of Prey, Helmsley
SILVER The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa
BRONZE Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton
Experience of the Year
GOLD Hotham's Gin School and Distillery
SILVER Leeds Cookery School
BRONZE The Bloody Tour of York
Large Hotel of the Year
GOLD Grantley Hall, Ripon
SILVER The Yorkshire Hotel
BRONZE The Grand, York
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
GOLD Harewood House Trust
SILVER Wensleydale Creamery
BRONZE Cannon Hall Farm, Barnsley
New Tourism Business Award
GOLD Grantley Hall, Ripon
SILVER Waleswood Caravan and Camping Park at Rother Valley Country Park
BRONZE The Private Hill, Acklam
Producers and Makers Award
GOLD Rounton Coffee Roasters, Northallerton
SILVER Bullion Chocolate, Sheffield
BRONZE The Candied Peel Cake Co, Leeds
Pub of the Year
GOLD The Drovers Arms Restaurant & Country Pub, Skipwith
SILVER The Millers Bar, Brighouse
BRONZE The Clarendon Country pub with rooms, Hebden
Self-catering Accommodation of the Year
GOLD Grand Get-Togethers, Malton
SILVER High Oaks Grange, Pickering
BRONZE Holly House Farm, Hudswell
Small Hotel of the Year
GOLD Grays Court Hotel in York
SILVER Galtres Lodge Hotel, York
BRONZE The Devonshire Fell, Burnsall
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
GOLD Bradford Cathedral
SILVER Mother Shipton's, Knaresborough
BRONZE Studfold Adventure Trail, Lofthouse
Taste of England – Casual Dining Award
GOLD The Rattle Owl, York
SILVER Wensleydale Creamery
BRONZE Forest, York
Tourism Event Award
GOLD Hallowscream at York Maze
SILVER Wakefield Rhubarb Festival
BRONZE Banana Kick & LeedsBID – The Leeds Jurassic Trail