The winners of the East of England Tourism Awards 2023-2024 were announced last night at a ceremony at Snape Maltings, Suffolk. With businesses of all shapes and sizes from across the region in attendance, it was a night to highlight some of the incredible work being done to provide memorable holidays, days and nights out in the East.
The contribution that our robust tourism offering makes to our regional economy is vital, with more than 140 million day-trippers bringing in close to £10 billion to our visitor economy each year.
These numbers would not be possible without the hard work, dedication and tenacity of the people behind our hospitality and tourism businesses – from the CEOs and marketing managers to the waiting staff and cleaners.
The ceremony at Snape Maltings was a night dedicated to these people and their achievements. It was attended by the industry’s best and brightest – all of the deserving finalists and winners (listed below), as well as the range of sponsor businesses, without whom these awards couldn’t take place.
You can find out more about all of this year’s winners in our winners supplement, available next week, and read about some of the stellar work being done to uphold and enhance our region’s great reputation for tourism.
A massive thank you to all of our sponsors and our headline sponsor Hoseasons, as well as our drinks reception partner Larking Gowen and our PR partner Nurture Marketing.
The East of England Tourism Awards are held in association with Visit East of England, which also operates Visit Suffolk and Visit Norfolk, with the winner and two finalists in each category going through to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence finals, which champion the very best of the country’s tourism industry.
VisitEngland director Andrew Stokes said: “The East of England Tourism Awards consistently deliver finalists who go on to win big at our VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, including last year with gold winners Piglets Boutique, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, Watatunga Wildlife Reserve and Thorington Theatre, and silver winner the Unruly Pig.
“The applicants from Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk as well as Hertfordshire are always impressive and I wish them the very best of luck and look forward to finding out who the next regional winners are.”
Congratulations to the winners!
For more details on next year’s East of England Tourism Awards as they are released, please keep your eyes peeled for updates at tourismawards.co.uk
The winners
Outstanding Contribution to Tourism
Sponsored by Hoseasons
Winner: Andy Wood OBE – Adnams
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism
Sponsored by First Bus
Winner: Colchester Zoo
Finalists:
Colchester Castle
ROARR!
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
Winner: Applewood Countryside Park
Finalists:
Albion Nights
Deepdale Camping & Rooms
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism
Sponsored by Swiss Camplings
Winner: Mill Farm Eco Barns
Finalists:
Holkham
Markshall
Experience of the Year
Winner: Hertfordshire Zoo
Finalists:
Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park
Eastwood Whelpton Sailing Holidays
Large Hotel of the Year
Sponsored by Ensors Chartered Accountants
Winner: Wivenhoe House Hotel
Finalists:
Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate
Turing Locke
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Sponsored by Howes Percival
Winner: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter
Finalists:
Hertfordshire Zoo
ROARR!
New Tourism Business of the Year
Winner: Potters Resorts Five Lakes
Finalists:
Fire and Feast Suffolk
The Bell Hotel, Saxmundham
Small Serviced Accommodation of the Year
Winner: The Assembly House Norwich
Finalists:
Retreat East
The Victoria
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Winner: Hasty’s Adventure Farm
Finalists:
The Bug Parc
The Suffolk Punch Trust
Pub of the Year
Sponsored by Everard Cole
Winner: The Three Horseshoes
Finalists:
The Angel at Watlington
The Lion
Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
Sponsored by cottages.com
Winner: Bethnal&Bec Luxury Stays
Finalists:
LandyCampers
The Suffolk Escape
Taste of East of England Award
Sponsored by Adnams
Winner: Namaste Village Norwich
Finalists:
River Green Restaurant, Norwich
Yalm Food Hall
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