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Highest Point Festival wins at Lancashire Tourism Awards

The Highest Point Festival at Williamson Park in Lancaster

The Highest Point Festival in Lancaster has been recognised at a county-wide celebration of tourism.

The festival based at Williamson Park scooped the award for Best Large Event at the Lancashire Tourism Awards ceremony in Blackpool on Tuesday.

Highest Point came out on top ahead of other finalists the British Textile Biennial in East Lancashire, Christmas by the Sea in Blackpool and Santa Specials at the East Lancashire Railway.

The event, which began in 2018, has evolved into one of the biggest music and arts festivals in the UK.

The 2022 festival drew 35,000 people to the park in Lancaster.

It featured dozens of international music stars headlined by Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft (pictured below), Clean Bandit and Kaiser Chiefs.

Example, a Basement Jaxx DJ set, Mimi Webb, Sigala, and Reverend and the Makers were also on the line-up for the event, which ran from Thursday May 12 to Sunday May 15 2022.

The 2023 Highest Point event will run from May 11-13.

An economic study after the 2021 festival showed an estimated £4.68 million pounds was generated in the local area as a result of the event.

Several other local organisations, venues and people were nominated for awards including the Royal at Heysham, Lancaster Brewery, Lancaster Grand Theatre, Morecambe Bay Chowder Co, the Lancaster Dino Fest dinosaur event, and Lancaster Brewery Spirits Company.

The awards were held at the new Blackpool Conference and Exhibition Centre and hosted by comedian Steve Royle.

The full list of finalists and winners were:

 

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award

Brickhouse Farm Holiday Cottages & Lakeside Hub, Hambleton – WINNER

The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton

Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs

Thornton Hall Country Park, Thornton-in-Craven

 

Business Events Venue of the Year

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley

Ewood Experience, Blackburn

Merlin Events, Blackpool – WINNER

The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth

Winter Gardens Blackpool

 

Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year

Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Newsholme

Newton Hall Holiday Park, Blackpool

Ribble Valley Retreat, Langho – WINNER

The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale

Stanley Villa Farm Fishing & Camping, Greenhalgh

 

Cultural Venue/Organisation Award

Lancaster Grand Theatre

Samlesbury Hall

Winter Gardens Blackpool – WINNER

 

Dog Friendly Business of the Year

Bella Vista Lodge, Blackpool

The Golden Ball of Longton

HAPPA, Shores Hey Farm, Briercliffe

The Lawrence Hotel, Padiham – WINNER

Mowbreck Holiday Park, Wesham

 

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award

Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Newsholme – WINNER

Laythams Holiday Lets Retreat, Slaidburn

The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth

 

Experience of the Year

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours

Blackpool Pleasure Beach ‘Walk The…’ Experiences – WINNER

Countryside & Culinary Breaks at Dale House Barn, Slaidburn

Goosnargh Gin School Experience Days

Inch Perfect Trials Experience Day, Whitewell

 

Hospitality and Tourism Student of the Year

Steven Cartmell, BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Travel & Tourism at Blackpool Sixth Form College.

Sophie Lancaster, NCFE Extended Diploma Travel & Tourism at Runshaw College

Charlie Nicholls, C&G L3 Diploma in Professional Cookery at Blackpool and the Fylde College – WINNER

David Wetherill, Chef Diploma at Runshaw College

 


Hotel Wedding Venue of the Year

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley

Mitton Hall, Mitton – WINNER

Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho

Stanley House Hotel & Spa, Mellor

 

Lancashire Perfect Stay – Small Serviced Accommodation 

3 Millstones Inn, West Bradford

Dale House Barn and B&B, Slaidburn

Fence Gate Lodge, Fence – WINNER

The Lawrence Hotel, Padiham

The Royal at Heysham

 

Large Event of the Year Award

British Textile Biennial, East Lancashire

Christmas by the Sea, Blackpool

Highest Point Festival, Lancaster – WINNER

Santa Specials at East Lancashire Railway

 

Large Hotel of the Year

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley

Foxfields Country Hotel, Whalley

Hampton by Hilton Blackpool – WINNER

Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho

 

New Tourism Business of the Year *

The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton

Ribble Valley Retreat, Langho – WINNER

 

Pub of the Year

PLAU, Preston – WINNER

Shireburn Arms, Hurst Green

White Bull Oswaldtwistle

 

Resilience and Innovation Award *

The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale

The Whitehall Hotel & Distillery, Darwen – WINNER

Winter Gardens Blackpool

 

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year *

Brickhouse Holiday Cottages, Hambleton

Laythams Holiday Lets Retreat, Clitheroe

Oakdean Cottages, Langho – WINNER

 

Small Event of the Year Award

British Country Music Festival, Blackpool

Chorley Flower Show

Dino Fest, Lancaster

Pumpkin Festival at Ridgeway Farm, Blackpool

Thornton Hall Christmas Adventure, Thornton-in-Craven – WINNER

 

Taste Lancashire Award

263 Restaurant, Preston – WINNER

The Coach and Horses, Bolton-by-Bowland

La Locanda, Gisburn

 

Taste Lancashire Producer Award

Brindle Distillery, Chorley – WINNER

Goosnargh Gin

Lancaster Brewery Spirits Company

Morecambe Bay Chowder

 

Unsung Hero Award

Jenna Bullows, Assistant Manager, The Whitehall Hotel and Distillery

Sharon Jones, Hall Director, Samlesbury Hall

Jeremy Rowlands, Managing Director, Meat & Drink – WINNER
 

 

Visitor Attraction of the Year 

The Blackpool Tower

The Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre, Brock – WINNER

Thornton Hall Country Park, Thornton-in-Craven

 

Wedding Venue of the Year

The Mount Pavilion, Fleetwood

The Out Barn, Waddington – WINNER

Samlesbury Hall

The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth

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