Leicester and Leicestershire Excellence in Tourism Awards 2015

Gold awards were presented to 13 tourism businesses at the fifth annual Leicester and Leicestershire Excellence in Tourism Awards 2015.

Gold winners and Highly Commended finalists received their awards at the ceremony on 5 November 2015, hosted by Leicester Shire Promotions and held at Mercure Leicester, The Grand Hotel.

The winners in each category were:

Accommodation Provider of the Year
Mercure Leicester, The Grand Hotel - Gold
Kilworth House Hotel - Highly Commended
Best Western Plus Ullesthorpe Court Hotel & Golf Club - Highly Commended

Tourism Event of the Year
Melton Mowbray Victorian Fayre - Gold
Foxton Locks Festival - Highly Commended Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre - Gold
Stoneywell - Highly Commended
The Boilerhouse - Highly Commended

Taste of England Award
The White Peacock - Gold
34 Windsor Street - Highly Commended
National Space Centre - Highly Commended  

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
King Richard III Visitor Centre - Gold
Curve - Highly Commended
National Space Centre - Highly Commended

Access for All Tourism Award
Attenborough Arts Centre - Gold
National Space Centre - Highly Commended

Sustainable Tourism Award
Horseshoe Cottage Farm - Gold Tourism

Pub of the Year
The Belper Arms - Gold

Business Tourism Award
imago - Gold
College Court Highly Commended

Tourism Experience
King Richard III Reinterment - Gold
Hawkwise Falconry - Highly Commended

Holiday Park of the Year/Self Catering Provider of the Year
Eye Kettleby Lakes - Gold
The Dandelion Hideaway - Gold

Bed and Breakfast Award
Badgers Mount – Gold

Winners on the night will now be re-judged for the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2016. In the 2015 VisitEngland awards, four local businesses made it through to the finals including Gold Award winner, Hotel Maiyango, as well as The Dandelion Hideaway, The Exchange and the National Space Centre.

Martin Peters, Chief Executive of Leicester Shire Promotions said: “This year’s finalists, Highly Commended and Gold award winners, showcase the strength of Leicester and Leicestershire’s offering as a nationally-recognised destination for domestic and international visitors. We’re proud of all of these local businesses, organisations and experiences, and will be supporting them as they aim for national glory in the VisitEngland awards.”

James Berresford, Chief Executive of VisitEngland added: “This year’s finalists are fantastic examples of local businesses that are creating memorable experiences for visitors to Leicester and Leicestershire. I wish them the very best in competing for our VisitEngland Excellence awards in 2016.”