The Cumbria Tourism Awards is a huge event for our lovely members every year. More than 400 guests attended Cartmel Racecourse on June 20th to congratulate everyone that makes our booming, vibrant and vast tourism industry special. This year was particularly memorable thanks to the abundance of awards our fantastic members accumulated!
The winner of the Large Hotel of the Year award went to North Lakes Hotel. This is no surprise as this fabulous hotel has been very busy completing their recent £3m refurbishment. The most significant change is the introduction of their new restaurant FYR, where guests can enjoy watching the chefs cook on an open fire! FYR takes pride in their signature kebabs, succulent burgers and steaks, it is certainly worth a visit. Catering for families and couples alike, their food is available throughout the day offering breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.
The ‘Highly Commended’ Hotel in this category went to another wonderful member Armathwaite Hall. Set in 400 acres of woodland, a stone's throw from Bassenthwaite Lake and some of the most dramatic Lake District mountains, this luxury hotel is one of England’s original stately homes. There is something for everyone here, the hotel is a popular choice for weddings and luxury spa breaks, while also offering lake view restaurant dining, afternoon tea, a cocktail bar, and conference rooms.
The lovely Lindeth Howe once the home of Beatrix Potter was also recognised as a fantastic place to stay, this member was a finalist for the Small Hotel of the Year award. When visiting this gorgeous Windermere hotel you can see why, the lounge and bar area will stick in your memory thanks to the unique, artistic decor paying tribute to Beatrix Potter. It is a great place to relax and let the mind wander! There are so many details to the interior design to appreciate.
Another member Merewood Country House Hotel won the Taste Cumbria award for their innovative and memorable taste experience. British and European in style, Merewood take pride in using local ingredients either sourced from their own land or from local suppliers. The hotel offers two beautiful dining rooms, the award winning ‘Arboreal’ boasts complex, elegant dishes while ‘The Grill’ is relaxed dining offering steaks, salads and other British classics. All the food is fresh, seasonal and expertly prepared on site, welcoming both non-hotel guests and guests to dine.
Castle Green Hotel have had amazing recognition this year for both weddings and customer service. This fabulous member was a finalist for the Wedding Venue of the Year award and their banqueting manager Christine Brown won the Sheila Hensman award. This award was set up for individuals who lead the way in outstanding customer service, this was no surprise to us or Castle Green as Christine has been a credit to the business for over 20 years, supporting many people throughout her career.
Overall a huge success, it is great to see our lovely members be congratulated for their hard work! We really look forward to see what the rest of 2018 brings for us as an association.