51 of the area’s best tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses will go head-to-head at the prestigious Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Tourism Awards 2026, sponsored by the University of Staffordshire. 

Following a rigorous independent judging process, a record number of 155 entries from across the region have been whittled down to help decide the shortlist of finalists in the 20 categories.    

The winners will be announced live at a glittering black-tie awards ceremony hosted by BBC Midlands Today’s Rebecca Wood, on Thursday 19th March 2026, at Statfold Country Park in Tamworth. 

Many of the ‘Gold’ winners will progress to represent Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence taking place in June 2026. 

The 2026 competition finalists are: 

Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award: 

  • Alton Towers Resort 

  • National Memorial Arboretum 

  • Trentham Estate 

Business Events Venue of the Year 

  • Beaconside Conferencing & Events centre 

  • Bet 365 Stadium, Stoke City FC 

  • Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat 

  • Hilton, St George’s Park 

  • Uttoxeter Racecourse 

Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park of the Year, sponsored by Trentham Estate: 

  • Park Hill Farm, Newcastle-under-Lyme 

  • Quarry Walk Park, Staffordshire Moorlands 

Experience of the Year: 

  • Distillery Tour and Tasting Experience, SIXTOWNS by Bros Distillery 

  • Introduction to Throwing, World of Wedgwood 

  • Moddershall Luxe Spa Stay, Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat 

  • Polar Bear Experience, Peak Wildlife Park 

  • Rural Retreat Two Night Spa Stay, Hoar Cross Hall 

Food & Drink Retailer/Farm Shop: 

  • Denstone Hall Farm Shop, near Uttoxeter 

  • Mangia Mangia Deli, Lichfield 

  • Titanic Brewery 

International Tourism Award, sponsored by University of Staffordshire: 

  • Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Keele 

  • McArthur Glen Designer Shopping Outlet, West Midlands 

  • World of Wedgwood 

Large Hotel of the Year: 

  • CBeebies Land Hotel, Alton Towers Resort 

  • Courtyard by Marriott, Keele 

  • Doubletree by Hilton, Stoke-on-Trent 

  • Hoar Cross Hall, near Burton upon Trent 

  • The Tawny Hotel, near Leek 

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by University of Staffordshire: 

  • Alton Towers Resort 

  • National Memorial Arboretum 

  • Peak Wildlife Park 

  • The Trentham Estate 

  • World of Wedgwood 

New Tourism Business of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire Means Business:  

  • Desire Cocktail Bar, Stoke-on-Trent 

  • Hockerhill Playbarn, South Staffordshire 

  • Philip Astley Project CIC, Newcastle-under-Lyme 

  • Whitmore Lakes, Newcastle-under-Lyme 

Pub of the Year:  

  • Fitzherbert Arms, Swynnerton 

  • The Littleton Arms, Penkridge 

  • The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer 

  • The Little George, Eccleshall 

  • The Trooper at Wall 

Regenerative Tourism Award, sponsored by Shepherd PR: 

  • Eagle House, Eccleshall 

  • Peak Wildlife Park, Staffordshire Moorlands 

  • The Brampton Museum 

Rising Star, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent College: 

  • Isabella Ranwell, Mangia Mangia Deli, Lichfield 

  • Kimberleigh Cyster, National Memorial Arboretum 

  • Poppy Gascoine, Desire Cocktail Bar, Stoke-on-Trent 

  • Slava Marynchenko, NSCG College & Lowe’s on Carter Street 

Self Catering Accommodation of the Year:  

  • ABC Boat Hire, Kings Orchard Marina, Lichfield 

  • Dalraddy Cottage, Cannock Chase 

  • Eagle House Apartment, Eccleshall 

  • Ford Wetley Cottage, Staffordshire Moorlands 

Small Serviced Accommodation of the Year: 

  • Eagle House, Eccleshall 

  • Fitzherbert Farmhouse, Swynnerton 

  • Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat 

  • The Black Lion Inn, Butterton, Near Leek 

  • The Little George, Eccleshall 

  • The Upper House Hotel, Barlaston 

  • Walnut House at The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone 

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year sponsored by RH Advertising:  

  • Emma Bridgewater 

  • Middleport Pottery 

  • The Brampton Museum 

  • WILD Zoological Park 

Taste of England - Casual Dining Award, sponsored by NSCG Colleges Group: 

  • Poms Lichfield 

  • The Black Lion Inn, Butterton 

  • The Royal Oak, Rushton Spencer 

  • The Star at Cotton, near Cheadle 

  • Thyme Kitchen, Lichfield 

Taste of England - Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce: 

  • Larder Brasserie, Lichfield 

  • Lowe’s on Carter Street, Uttoxeter 

  • Lunar Restaurant, Barlaston 

  • The Plumicorn at the Tawny, near Leek 

Taste of England - Tea Room & Coffee Shop of the Year:  

  • Denstone Hall Farm Café 

  • Poms Barton Marina 

  • The Packing House Café, Middleport Pottery 

  • World of Wedgwood Tea Room 

Team of the Year: 

  • Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat 

  • Peak Wildlife Park 

  • Play @ Lower Drayton Farm 

  • World of Wedgwood 

Unsung Hero Award, sponsored by Screen Staffordshire: 

  • Duncan Coleman, Trentham Estate 

  • George Lowe, Lowe’s on Carter Street 

  • Karen Johnson, Alton Towers Resort 

  • Keith Harrison, Gatehouse Theatre 

  • Mark Wisdom, Poms Lichfield 

  • Sophie Galantini, Hockerhill Adventure Playbarn 

For more information, visit www.visitstaffordshire.com/awards or contact Kim Hill at Visit Staffordshire, on 01785 277261 or tourism@staffordshire.gov.uk 

Ends 

Notes to editors 

In 2023, VisitEngland approved Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent’s application to become an accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP).  

The partnership, between the 10 local authorities in the county, is working together with the public and private sector to help shape and deliver national strategy and activities, and represent a sector which generates more than £2.7bn a year for the local economy and supports 25,000 jobs. 

Destination Staffordshire - Destination Staffordshire 

About University of Staffordshire 

For more than a century, University of Staffordshire has helped to turn possibility into reality. A catalyst for change, empowering individuals to realise their full potential and make meaningful contributions to society. The University’s in-house talent includes world-class researchers, internationally renowned academic leaders and the job-ready students and graduates they cultivate. University of Staffordshire offers industry-focused education, research and consultancy, backed up by campus-based innovation and tech hubs. The University is integral to the economic and social fabric of Staffordshire, supporting regional growth through business collaborations and civic initiatives.