Morecambe vintage festival and Lancaster theatre win at Lancashire Tourism Awards

The Morecambe vintage festival and the Dukes theatre in Lancaster have been named winners at the Lancashire Tourism Awards.

The annual Vintage by the Sea event on Morecambe Promenade won the award for the county's Best Large Event at the awards held on Tuesday night at the King George's Hall in Blackburn.

Lauren Zawadzki from Morecambe company Deco Publique who co-organise the festival alongside designer and TV personality Wayne Hemingway and his family, said they were "absolutely thrilled to have won it for our 10th anniversary year".

Vintage by the Sea pulled thousands of people to Morecambe for a celebration of 20th century culture in September 2023.

The Dukes won the Lancashire Tourism Award for Cultural Organisation of the year.

Their programme of events in 2023 included the successful annual Play in the Park, Around the World in 80 Days in Williamson Park over the summer (see picture below).

There was also a win for the Black Knights Parachute Centre at Cockerham who took the Experience of the Year award.

And Moss Wood Caravan Park at Cockerham won an award for Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism.

Lancashire radio broadcaster John 'Gilly' Gillmore was the evening’s guest presenter,  and shared his love of the county and its people with stories accumulated  over three and a half decades on air; something that won him the title of Tourism Superstar, in the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2015.

During the ceremony Gilly was joined on stage by a number of guest presenters and sponsors, who announced the winners of the 25 awards.

FULL LIST OF LANCASHIRE TOURISM AWARDS 2023 WINNERS

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism

WINNER - The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton  

FINALISTS

Blackpool Transport Services Ltd, Blackpool
Brickhouse Farm Cottages, Hambleton
Lancashire Outdoor Activities Initiative, Rivington
The Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre, Brock

Business Events Venue

WINNER  - Winter Gardens Blackpool

FINALISTS
Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley
Tickled Trout Hotel, South Ribble

Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park

WINNER - The Secret Garden Glamping, Holland Moss, Skelmersdale    

FINALISTS
Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Newsholme
Pure Leisure Group, Lancaster

Cultural Venue / Organisation

WINNER - The Dukes, Lancaster    

FINALISTS

Blackburn Cathedral, Blackburn
King George’s Hall, Blackburn
The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery, Rawtenstall
Winter Gardens Blackpool, Blackpool

Dog Friendly Business

WINNER - The Lawrence Hotel, Padiham      

FINALISTS

Holland Hall, Up Holland
Tewitfield Marina, Tewitfield / Carnforth

Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism

WINNER - Moss Wood Caravan Park, Cockerham

FINALISTS

Delta Hotels by Marriott Preston, Broughton
Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Newsholme

Experience of the Year

WINNER - Black Knights Parachute Centre, Cockerham   

FINALIST

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours, Blackpool

Family Owned / Run Business

WINNER - Brickhouse Farm Cottages, Hambleton  

FINALISTS

Fence Gate, Fence
Elgin Hotel, Blackpool
Frederick’s Ice Cream Ltd, Heath Charnock / Chorley
JAK Hanson Shopping Outlet, Wrightington
Mill House Farm Pods, Cockerham
Partington’s Holiday Parks, Thornton-Cleveleys

Hotel Wedding Venue

WINNER - Holland Hall, Up Holland 

FINALISTS

Delta Hotels by Marriott Preston, Broughton
Foxfields Country Hotel, Billington
Glendower Hotel, St Annes
Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho

Hospitality & Tourism Student

WINNER - Kirsty Helme, Blackpool & The Fylde College    

FINALISTS

Negar Rezaei, Burnley College – Highly Commended
Kai Rothwell, Burney College
Connor Tyler, Blackburn College

Large Event

WINNER - Vintage by the Sea, Morecambe 

FINALISTS

Amazing Accrington Soapbox Challenge
Festa Italia, Lancaster
National Festival of Making, Blackburn.
The Great British R&B Festival, Colne

Large Hotel WINNER - Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley

FINALISTS

Hotel Sheraton, Blackpool
Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho
The Glendower Hotel, St Annes

Pub of the Year

WINNER - The Pendle Inn, part of Daniel Thwaites, Barley   

FINALISTS

Fence Gate, Fence
Shireburn Arms, Hurst Green

New Tourism Business

WINNER - The Rum Fox, Grindleton    

FINALISTS

Assheton Arms, Downham
Everything Retreat, Mellor
Fell Urban Bistro, Longridge
Mill House Farm Pods, Cockerham
The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton
The Hole in Wand Blackpool, Blackpool
 

Resilience & Innovation

WINNER - Blackpool Transport Service Ltd, Blackpool    

FINALISTS

Holland Hall Hotel, Up Holland
3 Millstones Inn, West Bradford

Self-Catering Accommodation

WINNER- The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton

FINALISTS

Everything Retreat, Mellor
Kays Farm Retreat, Chorley
The Stables @Hall Green Farm, Longton

Small Event

WINNER - Music in the Park, Leyland  

FINALISTS

Chorley Live
Chorley 10K
Chorley Flower Show
Coronation Event, Nelson
Darwen Live
Dino Fest, Lancaster
Myerscough College & University Country Fair
Nestival Gin Festival, Brindle Distillery, Chorley
Stonyhurst Summer Festival of Sports, Hurst Green
Spooks at Thornton Hall Country Park, Thornton in Craven

Lancashire Perfect Stay – Small Serviced Accommodation Provider

WINNER - The Lawrence Hotel, Padiham     

FINALISTS

Bella Vista Lodge, Blackpool
Fence Gate Lodge, Fence
The Millstone, Mellor, part of Daniel Thwaites, Mellor

Visitor Attraction

WINNER - Windmill Animal Farm, Burscough

FINALISTS

Lancashire Police Museum, Lancaster
The Hole in Wand Blackpool, Blackpool

Taste Lancashire

WINNER - La Locanda, Gisburn   

FINALISTS

CDJ Restaurant, Darwen
Fell Urban Bistro, Longridge
 

Taste Lancashire Producer

WINNER - Sandgrown Spirits, Lytham

FINALISTS

Crave Marinades, Preston
Fairham Distillery, Penwortham
Lone Wolf Bakery, Morecambe
Lucela’s, Bispham
Mr Fitzpatrick’s, Rawtenstall

Unsung Hero

WINNER - Joanne Denton, Head of Weddings, Holland Hall      
 
FINALISTS

Oli Martin, Chef Director/owner, Aven, Fell Urban Bistro & Foray Catering.
Simon Entwistle, Tour Guide, Top Hat Tours

Wedding Venue

WINNER - West Tower Wedding Venue, Aughton    

FINALISTS

Eaves Hall, West Bradford
Wyre Weddings, Mount Pavilion, Fleetwood

The Judges’ Award – selected from all of this year’s finalists for special recognition 

Hotel Sheraton, Blackpool