2025 Tourism Award Winners announced
The crème-de-la-crème of the county’s tourism and hospitality industry have been crowned at this year’s Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Tourism Awards.
Businesses from across the county gathered at the Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent for the glittering black-tie event, sponsored by University of Staffordshire and hosted by BBC Midlands Today’s Rebecca Wood.
An audience of more than 300 guests saw the winners of 20 categories announced, including National Memorial Arboretum (Large Visitor Attraction of the Year), Middleport Pottery (Small Visitor Attraction of the Year), and The Plumicorn at The Tawny (Restaurant of the Year).
The Tawny Hotel was named Hotel of the Year, while The Fitzherbert Arms, Swynnerton, won the Pub of the Year title, and Poms Lichfield won the Tea Room/Coffee Shop of the Year award.
The Experience of the Year went to Trentham Estate, for their Dusk Beaver Safari, while New Business of the Year was Lowe’s on Carter Street, Uttoxeter, World of Wedgwood won the International Tourism Award, and The Star at Cotton, Oakamoor, won the Casual Dining award.
Small Serviced Accommodation of the Year was Walnut House at The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone, and the Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year award went to Consall Valley Lodge, near Cheadle.
And there were wins for Nelson’s Distillery & School’s David Hunter in the Unsung Hero category, Keele University Events & Conferencing (Business Events Venue of the Year), Alton Towers Resort, in the Accessible & Inclusive Tourism category, and Hoar Cross Hall in the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism category.
Lowe’s on Carter Street won Team of the Year, and the Rising Star Award went to Daniel West from The Upper House Hotel, Barlaston.
There was also a special award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in Staffordshire presented to Clare Furnell-King, Regional General Manager of M&T Hotels, overseeing the Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent, in recognition of her exceptional leadership, her advocacy for the tourism industry, and her unwavering pride in Staffordshire.
Charlotte Cain, Staffordshire Investment Agency Manager at Staffordshire County Council, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to celebrate our amazing tourism sector.
“We’re attraction central, the biggest and best playground in the country and I’m incredibly proud of our tourism offer and everyone working in the sector. I would like to say a huge congratulations to all our winners and those highly commended and a big thanks to the Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent for hosting the event.
“Tourism continues to boom here in Staffordshire, generating an estimated £2.3 billion for the local economy and employing thousands of people. This is due to the hard work and determination of our hospitality businesses to provide excellent and memorable visitor experiences.
“Once again a huge well done to the sector and good luck to our winners who now go forward to the national VisitEngland awards.”
The winners of 14 categories progress to represent Staffordshire at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, to be held at the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange on 4th June 2025.
Category sponsors at the 2025 Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism & Good Food Awards were University of Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent College, Shepherd PR, RH Advertising, Duchess China 1888, Trentham Estate, Staffordshire Means Business, the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and We Are Staffordshire.
WINNERS – 2025 ENJOY STAFFORDSHIRE TOURISM & GOOD FOOD AWARDS
Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award, sponsored by University of Staffordshire
Alton Towers Resort – GOLD
National Memorial Arboretum – SILVER
The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – BRONZE
Trentham Estate – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Business Events Venue of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce
Keele University Events & Conferencing – GOLD
Alton Towers Resort – SILVER
Drayton Manor Resort – BRONZE
Weston Park Enterprises – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park of the Year
Quarry Walk Park, Alton – GOLD
Secret Cloud House Holidays, Cauldon, near Cheadle – SILVER
Hales Hall Caravan & Camping Park, Cheadle – BRONZE
Casual Dining Award
The Star at Cotton, near Oakamoor – GOLD
Thyme Kitchen, Lichfield – SILVER
Ye Olde Rock Inn, near Leek – BRONZE
The Grosvenor Restaurant at Hales Hall, Cheadle – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award, sponsored by University of Staffordshire
Hoar Cross Hall – GOLD
Alton Towers Resort – SILVER
Dorothy Clive Garden – BRONZE
Eagle House, Eccleshall – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED
The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED
Experience of the Year, sponsored by University of Staffordshire
Dusk Beaver Safari, Trentham Estate – GOLD
Distillery Experience, Nelson’s Distillery & School – SILVER
Serenity Spa Stay, Hoar Cross Hall – Joint BRONZE
Tower Tours, Lichfield Cathedral – Joint BRONZE
Tranquillity Spa Day, Moddershall Oaks – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Independent Restaurant of the Year
The Plumicorn at The Tawny – GOLD
Lunar Restaurant, Stoke-on-Trent – SILVER
Lowe’s on Carter Street, Uttoxeter – BRONZE
The Oak House at Moddershall Oaks – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Willow Trentham – HIGHLY COMMENDED
International Tourism Award, sponsored by Shepherd PR
World of Wedgwood – GOLD
Large Hotel of the Year
The Tawny Hotel – GOLD
Hoar Cross Hall – Joint SILVER
CBeebies Land Hotel, Alton Towers Resort – Joint SILVER
Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent – Joint BRONZE
Drayton Manor Hotel, Drayton Manor Resort – Joint BRONZE
Courtyard by Marriott, Keele – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by University of Staffordshire
National Memorial Arboretum – GOLD
Alton Towers Resort – Joint SILVER
Trentham Estate – Joint SILVER
World of Wedgwood – Joint BRONZE
Drayton Manor Resort – Joint BRONZE
Peak Wildlife Park – Joint BRONZE
Waterworld, Stoke-on-Trent – HIGHLY COMMENDED
New Tourism Business of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire Means Business
Lowe’s on Carter Street, Uttoxeter – GOLD
Adventure Mini Village, Stoke-on-Trent – Joint SILVER
Hockerhill Playbarn, near Brewood – Joint SILVER
Jurassic Creek Adventure Golf, near Codsall – BRONZE
Pub of the Year
The Fitzherbert Arms, Swynnerton – GOLD
The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone – SILVER
The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer – BRONZE
Den Engel, Leek – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Rising Star Award, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent College
Daniel West, The Upper House Hotel, Barlaston – GOLD
Patrick Brown, Peak Wildlife Park – SILVER
Kirsty Holland, Alton Towers Resort – BRONZE
Max Croston, Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Orion Hunte, Courtyard by Marriott Keele – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
Consall Valley Lodge – GOLD
Weston Park Holiday Cottages – SILVER
ABC Boat Hire at Kings Orchard Marina – BRONZE
Ford Wetley Cottage, near Leek – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED
The Apartment at Eagle House Eccleshall – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED
Small Serviced Accommodation of the Year, sponsored by Trentham Estate
Walnut House, The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone – GOLD
Eagle House Eccleshall – SILVER
The Little George, Eccleshall – BRONZE
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by RH Advertising
Middleport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent – GOLD
Tamworth Castle – SILVER
The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – Joint BRONZE
Dorothy Clive Garden, near Newcastle-under-Lyme – Joint BRONZE
Tea Room & Coffee Shop of the Year, sponsored by Duchess China 1888
Pom’s, Lichfield – GOLD
World of Wedgwood Tea Room – SILVER
Denstone Hall Farm Shop & Café, near Uttoxeter – Joint BRONZE
The Little George, Eccleshall – Joint BRONZE
Team of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent LVEP
Lowe’s on Carter Street, Uttoxeter – GOLD
Revenue, Marketing & Sales Team, Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent – SILVER
Riverbank Restaurant Team, Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group – BRONZE
The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Unsung Hero Award, sponsored by We Are Staffordshire
David Hunter, Nelson’s Distillery & School – GOLD
Jonathan Fowler, Thyme Kitchen – SILVER
Stephen Waring, Alton Towers Resort – BRONZE
Jodie Knapper, Trentham Estate – HIGHLY COMMENDED
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