Tom

A total of 46 gold and silver winners were selected from more than 100 regional winners submitted by the nine regions in England. These were assessed by independent assessors and a team of judges to make it through to the national final.

The National Trust won the VisitEngland’s Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award for its role as the bastion of some of England’s most beautiful and outstanding attractions.

VisitEngland chief executive James Berresford said: “The fantastic diversity and quality of tourism product across the length and breadth of England means we can compete confidently on the international stage, making this country a must visit destination for Brits and overseas visitors.”

Brian Richardson, executive secretary of The Caravan Club, headline sponsor of the awards, said: “We know these award winners will be beacons of inspiration for many other tourism companies to follow.”

The gold winners were:

Access for All Tourism Award – imago at Burleigh Court, Loughborough, Leicestershire (East Midlands)

Bed and Breakfast/Guest Accommodation – The Old School, Alnwick, Northumberland (North East)

Best Tourism Experience – Livingstone Lodge Overnight Safari, near Hythe, Kent (South East)

Business Tourism Award – ExCeL London (London)

Caravan Holiday Park – Trethem Mill Touring Park, Truro, Cornwall (South West)

Large Hotel (Over 35 bedrooms) – Thurlestone Hotel, Kingsbridge, Devon (South West)

Large Visitor Attraction (Over 100,000 visitors) – RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey (South East)

Outstanding Customer Service – Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn Hotel, Liverpool (North West)

Self Catering Holiday of the Year – Blakelow Farm Holiday Cottages, Winster, Derbyshire (East Midlands)

Small Hotel of the Year (Under 50 Bedrooms) – Gilpin Lodge Country House, Windermere, The Lake District (North West)

Small Visitor Attraction (Under 50,000) – Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham (The Heart of England)

Sustainable Tourism Award – Crown Spa Hotel, Scarborough (Yorkshire)

Taste of England Award – The Bildeston Crown, Bildeston, Suffolk (East of England)

Tourism Event – Blackpool Illuminations, Blackpool (North West)

Tourist Information Service – Nottingham Tourism Centre, Nottingham (East Midlands)

Also voted for were the quirkiest events in England, a selection of those that are coming soon are below:

Worcestershire Asparagus Festival – between April 23 – May 31 in Evesham, Worcestershire

World Egg Throwing Championships – 27 June at Swaton Vintage Day near Sleaford in Lincolnshire

Annual World Nettle Eating Contest – 12 June in Marshwood in Dorset

Opening parade picture by Flickr User wobbler101

Stuck for something to do this Easter weekend? Do you live near or are visiting Leicestershire? Well, Easter Monday’s contest of bottle kicking and hare pie scambling between the villages of Hallaton and Medbourne.

This age old tradition is believed to have started in the 1700′s and starts with both ‘teams’ parading through each village where a hare pie (actually made of beef nowadays) is thrown into the crowd and there’s an almighty scramble to claim it. Once this is done both teams wrestle a ‘bottle’ (small keg) over a rather challenging terrain of streams, barbed wire, ditches and hedges and this is done as best of three competition to ascertain the winner! Tough going and can get rather competitive and can last several hours. Perhaps you might not want to join in if you’re not up for the rough and tumble aspect, but watching it go on will be a rather entertaining spectacle!

The festivities will begin at 11am in the sports field on Hallaton Road, Medbourne. Refreshments will be available and there is free parking for spectators, so if you’re near by it sounds like it’ll be a great family day out.

Tranquil Otter in Cumbria

This and other last-minute cottage offers are available on the holiday cottages late availability page.

Tom K