A tour inspired by Harry Styles and a world-famous zoo are among those hoping to roar to victory as finalists for the Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards 2024/2025 have been unveiled.
The awards celebrate the people and businesses behind Cheshire and Warrington’s tourism sector which contributes £3.41bn to the region’s economy and attracts more than 50 million visitors every year.
Organisers Marketing Cheshire said judges had to sift through a record number of entries for the awards which will see the winners crowned at a ceremony at Chester Cathedral on Thursday, March 6, 2025 – the second year in a row the spectacular venue is hosting.
Lucy-Jo Hudson with some of the winners at the Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards 2024.
Among attractions nominated is the Harry Styles-inspired Harry's Home Village Tour.
The guided tour through Holmes Chapel, which allows people to learn about the history of the village where the global pop star grew up including a stop at Harry’s former workplace Mandeville's bakery and Twemlow Viaduct, where the singer is said to have had his first kiss, is a finalist in three categories - namely: Best Tourism Marketing Project of the Year, Experience of the Year and New Tourism Business of the Year.
One of the most popular categories for entries was the newly added Best Event or Festival Award, which has been added following feedback from businesses and the desire for Marketing Cheshire to shine a light on this growing sector in the region’s visitor economy.
Finalists in this category were named as: BeWILDerwood presents Christmas (based in Malpas); Deva Fest (held at Cholmondeley Castle); Fireworks and Fun, The Ice Cream Farm, Tattenhall; Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Chester and Steam at the Lift, Anderton Boat Lift and Visitor Centre, Anderton.
Chester Zoo is also hoping to get its claws on a trophy after also finding itself as a finalist in three categories.
It is hoping love is in the air in the Wedding Venue of the Year category alongside Walton Hall and Gardens in Warrington; Carden Park Hotel & Spa on the outskirts of Chester; Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa, Delamere Manor, Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa and Peckforton Castle.
Thanks to its new Snow Leopard enclosure, Chester Zoo is also finalist in the Team of the Year category which celebrates the brilliant work that goes on behind the scenes. Other finalists going for glory in this category are Champneys Mottram Hall; The Chester Grosvenor; Canal & River Trust (North West Destination & Attraction Team); and The Bridge, Prestbury.
And the zoo is also a finalist in the Visitor Attraction of the Year category alongside BeWILDerwood Cheshire; Escapism Chester; Forest Distillery in Macclesfield; Norton Priory Museum and Gardens, Tatton Park; The Ice Cream Farm, Tattenhall; Wild Shore Delamere.
The full list of categories and finalists can be found below.
Qualifying winners in the final will be automatically entered into the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence to compete against the best in the country.
Trevor Brocklebank, chair of Marketing Cheshire said: “Every year the quality and breadth of entries from across all parts of the region is breathtaking. It’s also great to see the new Best Event or Festival category attracting a host of entries.
"Our region welcomes over 36.3 million visitors each year and every one of our finalists play a huge part in the continued success of Cheshire and Warrington’s world-renowned tourism gems.”
- Best Event or Festival
BeWILDerwood (Cheshire) presents Christmas
Deva Fest, Cholmondeley Castle
Fireworks and Fun, The Ice Cream Farm, Tattenhall
Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Chester
Steam at the Lift, Anderton Boat Lift & Visitor Centre
- Best Tourism Marketing Project of the Year
Harry's Home Village Tour, Holmes Chapel
Twiggle Tots, BeWILDerwood Cheshire
- Business Events Venue of the Year
Carden Park Hotel, near Chester
Champneys Mottram Hall, Macclesfield
Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa
Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa, Pulford
Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement, Macclesfield
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
Lady Heyes Holiday Park, Frodsham
Manor Wood, Chester
Overwater Marina & Holiday Park, Audlem
Pitch and Canvas, Chester
- Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award
Lyme, National Trust
Moxy Chester
- Experience of the Year
Distillery Tour, Forest Distillery, Macclesfield
Harry's Home Village Tour, Holmes Chapel
Pink Floyd's 50th Anniversary of 'The Dark Side of the Moon' Immersive Planetarium Experience, Jodrell Bank, Macclesfield
Wake & Shake, The Farm Club Group, Mere View Estate
- Large Hotel of the Year
Champneys Mottram Hall
Cottons Hotel & Spa, Knutsford
Doubletree by Hilton Hotel & Spa Chester
Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa, Nantwich
The Queen at Chester Hotel
- New Tourism Business of the Year
Chester on a Plate Tours
Harry's Home Village Tour, Holmes Chapel
Dead Good Ghost Tour, Chester
- Pub of the Year
Cholmondeley Arms, Cholmondeley near Malpas
Ring O' Bells, Christleton
The Bear's Paw, Warmingham, Sandbach
The Fishpool Inn, Delamere
The Pied Bull, Chester
The Vicarage, Cheshire (based at Cranage)
- Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
Black Prince Holidays, Northwich
Cheshire Boutique Stays, Nantwich
Nantwich Canal Centre
The Hide, Pickmere
- Small Serviced Accommodation of the Year
Cheshire Boutique Stays, Nantwich
The Bear's Paw, Warmingham, Sandbach
The Chester Townhouse
The Hive at 52, Weaverham
The Pheasant Inn, Tattenhall
- Taste Cheshire Award
Artezzan Restaurant & Bar, Chester
The Pheasant Inn, Tattenhall
The Sandbar Seafood Shack, Chester
- Team of the Year
Events Sales Office, Champneys Mottram Hall
Front of House, The Chester Grosvenor
Chester Cathedral Music Department, Chester Cathedral
North West Destination & Attraction Team, Canal & River Trust
Project Team - Snow Leopards, Chester Zoo
The Bridge, Prestbury
- Unsung Hero Award
Jayne Over, The Chester Grosvenor
Toby Garrick, Pitch & Canvas, Chester
- Visitor Attraction of the Year
BeWILDerwood Cheshire
Chester Zoo
Escapism Chester
Forest Distillery, Macclesfield
Norton Priory Museum and Gardens
Tatton Park
The Ice Cream Farm, Tattenhall
Wild Shore Delamere
- Wedding Venue of the Year
Carden Park Hotel & Spa, near Chester
Chester Zoo
Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa
Delamere Manor
Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa
Peckforton Castle
Walton Hall and Gardens, Warrington
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