Morecambe Vintage by the Sea among local finalists at Lancashire Tourism Awards

The Morecambe Vintage by the Sea festival is among the latest finalists to be announced in the Lancashire Tourism Awards.

The vintage festival, which pulled 50,000 people to the Promenade earlier this month, is among the finalists in the Large Event category at the annual awards.

It will be going up against the Lancaster 'Festa Italia' Italian festival, which is also short-listed, alongside events from Accrington, Colne and Blackburn.

Also announced as a finalist, is the Lone Wolf Bakery in the Taste Lancashire Producer category.

The Lone Wolf Bakery is run by Rachael Spence from Morecambe, who earlier this year opened a new shop on Meeting House Lane in Lancaster.

Read more: 'Lone Wolf' brings her one-woman bakery business to Lancaster city centre - Beyond Radio

Lancaster Dino Fest, a dinosaur-themed family festival run by Lancaster BID (below), is a finalist in the Small Event category.

The annual awards, organised by Marketing Lancashire, recognise the success and achievements of Lancashire’s tourism and hospitality businesses in a wide range of categories, with the Small Event, Large Event and Taste Lancashire Producer having had a few extra weeks to complete their applications.

The first finalists were announced in August.

Read more: Finalists announced in Lancashire Tourism Awards - Beyond Radio

The Dukes theatre in Lancaster is up for the Cultural Venue award, against opposition including the Winter Gardens in Blackpool and King George's Hall in Blackburn.

Lancashire Police Museum is nominated for Visitor Attraction of the Year while Pure Leisure Group have been shortlisted in the Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park category, and Tewitfield Marina has been nominated in the Dog Friendly Business category.

Cockerham has several finalists, with Moss Wood Caravan Park up for the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism award, Black Knights Parachute Centre a finalist for Experience of the Year, and Mill House Farm Pods for Family-run Business of the Year and New Tourism Business.

Vikki Harris, Marketing Lancashire Director of Marketing and Partnerships, said “After a successful and busy summer of great days out, food, drink and music festivals, as well as some of the country’s leading creative, making and participatory festivals, we are thrilled to name the finalists in three of this year’s most hotly contested categories.

“The categories of small and large events and Taste Lancashire Producer, had a little extra time to complete their applications, to enable them to compete in this year’s competition. As a result, we have been rewarded with an impressive list of finalists that truly reflects Lancashire’s wonderfully diverse visitor offer, during the main summer holiday period. They now go forward with all the other finalists to the judging stage of the Lancashire Tourism Awards and we wish them all the very best of luck.”

Only one category now remains open for applications, the Hospitality & Tourism Student of the Year award, which closes on Tuesday October 10. This award is open to any individual studying a hospitality or tourism-related course who demonstrates exceptional commitment to a career in hospitality or tourism.

The finalists in the category of Unsung Hero will be announced shortly. This special award recognises an individual working in a tourism business who excels in their role and deserves to be applauded for their work and commitment to the industry. Colleagues and industry partners across the sector have nominated unsung heroes for the award which is now being shortlisted.

The Lancashire Tourism Awards 2024 ceremony, announcing all the winners, will take place at King Georges Hall in Blackburn on Tuesday February 6.

Here is the full list of finalists announced to date:

Announced today:

Taste Lancashire Producer

Crave Marinades, Preston

Fairham Distillery, Penwortham

Lone Wolf Bakery, Morecambe

Lucela’s, Bispham

Mr Fitzpatrick's, Rawtenstall

Sandgrown Spirits, Lytham

Large Event (15,000+ visitors)

Amazing Accrington Soapbox Challenge 2023

Festa Italia, Lancaster

National Festival of Making, Blackburn.

The Great British R&B Festival, Colne

Vintage by the Sea, Morecambe

Small Event (less than 15,000 visitors)

Chorley Live

Chorley 10K

Chorley Flower Show

Coronation Event, Nelson

Darwen Live

Dino Fest, Lancaster

Music in the Park, Leyland

Myerscough College & University Country Fair

Nestival Gin Festival, Brindle Distillery, Chorley

Stonyhurst Experience - Summer Sports Camps, Hurst Green

Spooks, Thornton Hall Country Park, Thornton in Craven

Announced in August

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism

Blackpool Transport Services Ltd, Blackpool

Brickhouse Farm Cottages, Hambleton

Lancashire Outdoor Activities Initiative, Rivington

The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton

The Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre, Brock

Business Events Venue

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley

Tickled Trout Hotel, South Ribble

Winter Gardens Blackpool, Blackpool

Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park

Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Newsholme

Pure Leisure Group, Lancaster

The Secret Garden Glamping, Holland Moss, Skelmersdale

Cultural Venue / Organisation

Blackburn Cathedral, Blackburn

King George's Hall, Blackburn

The Dukes, Lancaster

The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery, Rawtenstall

Winter Gardens Blackpool, Blackpool

Dog Friendly Business

Holland Hall Hotel, Up Holland

Tewitfield Marina, Tewitfield / Carnforth

The Lawrence Hotel, Padiham

Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism

Delta Hotels By Marriott Preston, Broughton

Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Newsholme

Moss Wood Caravan Park, Cockerham

Experience of the Year

Black Knights Parachute Centre, Cockerham

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours, Blackpool

Family Owned / Run Business

Brickhouse Farm Cottages, Hambleton

Fence Gate, Fence

Elgin Hotel, Blackpool

Frederick's Ice Cream Ltd, Heath Charnock / Chorley

JAK Hanson Shopping Outlet, Wrightington

Mill House Farm Pods, Cockerham

Partington's Holiday Parks, Thornton-Cleveleys

Hotel Wedding Venue

Delta Hotels by Marriott Preston, Broughton

Foxfields Country Hotel, Billington

Glendower Hotel, St Annes

Holland Hall Hotel, Up Holland

Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho

Large Hotel

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley

Hotel Sheraton, Blackpool

Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho

The Glendower Hotel, St Annes

New Tourism Business

Assheton Arms, Downham

Everything Retreat, Mellor

Fell Urban Bistro, Longridge

Mill House Farm Pods, Cockerham

The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton

The Hole in Wand Blackpool, Blackpool

The Rum Fox, Grindleton

Pub of the Year

Fence Gate, Fence

Shireburn Arms, Hurst Green

The Pendle Inn – part of Daniel Thwaites, Barley

Resilience & Innovation

Blackpool Transport Service Ltd, Blackpool

Holland Hall Hotel, Up Holland

3 Millstones Inn, West Bradford

Self-Catering Accommodation

Everything Retreat, Mellor

Kays Farm Retreat, Chorley

The Estuary Riverside Chalets, Hambleton

The Stables @Hall Green Farm, Longton

Lancashire Perfect Stay - Small Serviced Accommodation Provider

Bella Vista Lodge, Blackpool

Fence Gate Lodge, Fence

The Lawrence Hotel, Padiham

The Millstone, Mellor – part of Daniel Thwaites, Mellor

Visitor Attraction

Lancashire Police Museum, Lancaster

The Hole in Wand Blackpool, Blackpool

Windmill Animal Farm, Burscough

Taste Lancashire Award

CDJ Restaurant, Darwen

Fell Urban Bistro, Longridge

La Locanda, Gisburn

Wedding Venue

Eaves Hall, West Bradford

West Tower Wedding Venue, Aughton

Wyre Weddings - Mount Pavilion, Fleetwood