East Staffordshire businesses secure finalists status at 2024 Tourism & Good Food Awards

More than 40 of Staffordshire’s best tourism and hospitality businesses will go head-to-head at the prestigious Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism & Good Food Awards 2024. Included in the finalists are 8 East Staffordshire nominees, who are shortlisted for 13 awards. 

Following a rigorous independent judging process, over 140 entries from across the county have been whittled down to help decide the shortlist of finalists in the 19 categories, with the winners announced live at a glittering black-tie awards ceremony hosted by BBC Midlands Today’s Rebecca Wood, on Thursday 14th March 2024, at Aspects at the National Memorial Arboretum.

Cllr Paul Walker, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Cultural Development, said: “It’s great to see so many East Staffordshire businesses getting the recognition they deserve. These awards highlight the very best the County has to offer and I am proud to see 8 entries from our Borough reach the finals.”

The finalists are:

Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award, sponsored by We Are Staffordshire:

•    Alton Towers Resort

•    The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme

•    National Memorial Arboretum

 

B&B/Guest House of the Year:

•    Black Lion Inn, Butterton, Leek

•    Eagle House, Eccleshall

•    St John’s House, Lichfield

 

Business Events Venue of the Year:

•    Aston Marina, Stone

•    The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme

•    Keele University Events & Conferencing

 

Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year: 

•    Duck Goose, Leek

•    The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer

•    Thyme Kitchen, Lichfield

 

Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award, sponsored by Staffordshire University:

•    Alton Towers Resort

•    Black Lion Inn, Butterton, Leek

•    Eagle House, Eccleshall

•    Hoar Cross Hall

•    National Memorial Arboretum

•    The Trentham Estate

 

Experience of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire University:

•    Alpaca Trekking, Wetley Moor Alpacas, near Stoke-on-Trent

•    Gin Still Experience, Nelson’s Distillery & School, near Uttoxeter

•    Photography Workshop, Chappers Photography, Abbots Bromley

•    Throw A Pot Experience, LoveClay Studio, Stoke-on-Trent

 

Food & Drink Retailer or Farm Shop of the Year: 

•    Canalside Farm Shop, Great Haywood near Stafford

•    Denstone Hall Farm Shop, Denstone near Uttoxeter

•    The Titanic Brewery Shop, Stoke-on-Trent

 

Independent Restaurant of the Year:

•    Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent

•    FEASTED, Stoke-on-Trent

•    The Flintlock at Cheddleton, near Leek

•    Granary Restaurant at Weston Park, Weston-under-Lizard

•    Hoar Cross Hall

•    Little Seeds, Stone

 

Large Hotel of the Year:

•    CBeebies Land Hotel, Alton Towers Resort

•    Doubletree by Hilton, Stoke-on-Trent

•    Drayton Manor Hotel, Drayton Manor Resort

•    Hoar Cross Hall, near Burton upon Trent

 

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year:

•    Alton Towers Resort

•    Drayton Manor Resort

•    Emma Bridgewater Factory

•    National Memorial Arboretum

•    The Trentham Estate

•    World of Wedgwood

 

New Tourism Business of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire County Council: 

•    The Boat House Kitchen & Bakery by Pom’s, Barton Marina

•    Bobobo, Stafford

•    The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer

•    The Play Barn @ Round Meadows Farm, Wetley Rocks

 

Pub of the Year: 

•    The Bank House, Hixon, near Stafford

•    Black Lion Inn, Butterton, near Leek

•    The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone

•    The Star at Cotton, near Cheadle

 

Rising Star, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent College:

•    Cameron Sutton – World of Wedgwood

•    Harvey Tweats – The Trentham Estate

•    Lucy Fletcher – Duck Goose, Leek

•    Paige Burnham – Doubletree by Hilton, Stoke-on-Trent

 

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year: 

•    The Apartment, Eagle House, Eccleshall

•    Ford Wetley Cottage, near Leek

•    Weston Park Holiday Cottages, Weston-under-Lizard

 

Small Hotel of the Year:

•    Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent

•    The Upper House Hotel, Barlaston

•    Walnut House at The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone

 

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by R H Advertising: 

•    The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme

•    Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke-on-Trent

•    Middleport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent

•    Tamworth Castle, Tamworth

 

Tea Room & Coffee Shop of the Year: 

•    Canalside Farm Café, Great Haywood near Stafford

•    Denstone Hall Farm Café, Denstone near Uttoxeter

•    Pom’s Kitchen & Deli, Lichfield

•    Ramblers Retreat Country Tea Room, Alton

•    World of Wedgwood Tea Room, Stoke-on-Trent

 

Team of the Year, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent City Council:

•    Forestry England – Forestry Recreation Team, Cannock Chase Forest

•    The Trentham Estate – Events & Operations Team

•    Wetley Moor Alpacas – Walk Leaders

 

Unsung Hero, sponsored by Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group: 

•    Lea Sherratt – Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent 

•    Mick Thomas – Alton Towers Resort

•    Stephen Wood – The Trentham Estate