
The Highest Point Festival in Lancaster has been recognised at a county-wide celebration of tourism.
The festival based at Williamson Park scooped the award for Best Large Event at the Lancashire Tourism Awards ceremony in Blackpool on Tuesday.
Highest Point came out on top ahead of other finalists the British Textile Biennial in East Lancashire, Christmas by the Sea in Blackpool and Santa Specials at the East Lancashire Railway.
The event, which began in 2018, has evolved into one of the biggest music and arts festivals in the UK.
The 2022 festival drew 35,000 people to the park in Lancaster.
It featured dozens of international music stars headlined by Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft (pictured below), Clean Bandit and Kaiser Chiefs.
Example, a Basement Jaxx DJ set, Mimi Webb, Sigala, and Reverend and the Makers were also on the line-up for the event, which ran from Thursday May 12 to Sunday May 15 2022.
The 2023 Highest Point event will run from May 11-13.
An economic study after the 2021 festival showed an estimated £4.68 million pounds was generated in the local area as a result of the event.
Several other local organisations, venues and people were nominated for awards including the Royal at Heysham, Lancaster Brewery, Lancaster Grand Theatre, Morecambe Bay Chowder Co, the Lancaster Dino Fest dinosaur event, and Lancaster Brewery Spirits Company.
The awards were held at the new Blackpool Conference and Exhibition Centre and hosted by comedian Steve Royle.
The full list of finalists and winners were:
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
Brickhouse Farm Holiday Cottages & Lakeside Hub, Hambleton – WINNER
The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton
Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs
Thornton Hall Country Park, Thornton-in-Craven
Business Events Venue of the Year
Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley
Ewood Experience, Blackburn
Merlin Events, Blackpool – WINNER
The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth
Winter Gardens Blackpool
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Newsholme
Newton Hall Holiday Park, Blackpool
Ribble Valley Retreat, Langho – WINNER
The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale
Stanley Villa Farm Fishing & Camping, Greenhalgh
Cultural Venue/Organisation Award
Lancaster Grand Theatre
Samlesbury Hall
Winter Gardens Blackpool – WINNER
Dog Friendly Business of the Year
Bella Vista Lodge, Blackpool
The Golden Ball of Longton
HAPPA, Shores Hey Farm, Briercliffe
The Lawrence Hotel, Padiham – WINNER
Mowbreck Holiday Park, Wesham
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award
Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Newsholme – WINNER
Laythams Holiday Lets Retreat, Slaidburn
The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth
Experience of the Year
Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours
Blackpool Pleasure Beach ‘Walk The…’ Experiences – WINNER
Countryside & Culinary Breaks at Dale House Barn, Slaidburn
Goosnargh Gin School Experience Days
Inch Perfect Trials Experience Day, Whitewell
Hospitality and Tourism Student of the Year
Steven Cartmell, BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Travel & Tourism at Blackpool Sixth Form College.
Sophie Lancaster, NCFE Extended Diploma Travel & Tourism at Runshaw College
Charlie Nicholls, C&G L3 Diploma in Professional Cookery at Blackpool and the Fylde College – WINNER
David Wetherill, Chef Diploma at Runshaw College
Hotel Wedding Venue of the Year
Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley
Mitton Hall, Mitton – WINNER
Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho
Stanley House Hotel & Spa, Mellor
Lancashire Perfect Stay – Small Serviced Accommodation
3 Millstones Inn, West Bradford
Dale House Barn and B&B, Slaidburn
Fence Gate Lodge, Fence – WINNER
The Lawrence Hotel, Padiham
The Royal at Heysham
Large Event of the Year Award
British Textile Biennial, East Lancashire
Christmas by the Sea, Blackpool
Highest Point Festival, Lancaster – WINNER
Santa Specials at East Lancashire Railway
Large Hotel of the Year
Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley
Foxfields Country Hotel, Whalley
Hampton by Hilton Blackpool – WINNER
Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho
New Tourism Business of the Year *
The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton
Ribble Valley Retreat, Langho – WINNER
Pub of the Year
PLAU, Preston – WINNER
Shireburn Arms, Hurst Green
White Bull Oswaldtwistle
Resilience and Innovation Award *
The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale
The Whitehall Hotel & Distillery, Darwen – WINNER
Winter Gardens Blackpool
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year *
Brickhouse Holiday Cottages, Hambleton
Laythams Holiday Lets Retreat, Clitheroe
Oakdean Cottages, Langho – WINNER
Small Event of the Year Award
British Country Music Festival, Blackpool
Chorley Flower Show
Dino Fest, Lancaster
Pumpkin Festival at Ridgeway Farm, Blackpool
Thornton Hall Christmas Adventure, Thornton-in-Craven – WINNER
Taste Lancashire Award
263 Restaurant, Preston – WINNER
The Coach and Horses, Bolton-by-Bowland
La Locanda, Gisburn
Taste Lancashire Producer Award
Brindle Distillery, Chorley – WINNER
Goosnargh Gin
Lancaster Brewery Spirits Company
Morecambe Bay Chowder
Unsung Hero Award
Jenna Bullows, Assistant Manager, The Whitehall Hotel and Distillery
Sharon Jones, Hall Director, Samlesbury Hall
Jeremy Rowlands, Managing Director, Meat & Drink – WINNER
Visitor Attraction of the Year
The Blackpool Tower
The Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre, Brock – WINNER
Thornton Hall Country Park, Thornton-in-Craven
Wedding Venue of the Year
The Mount Pavilion, Fleetwood
The Out Barn, Waddington – WINNER
Samlesbury Hall
The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth