Award Winners – Staffordshire Tourism Awards 2024

The crème-de-la-crème of Staffordshire tourism and hospitality have been crowned at this year’s Staffordshire Tourism and Good Food Awards. 

Businesses from across the county gathered at Aspects at National Memorial Arboretum, near Lichfield, for the 10th anniversary glittering black-tie event, sponsored by Staffordshire University and hosted by BBC Midlands Today’s Rebecca Wood. 

An audience of more than 300 guests saw the winners of 20 categories announced, including Alton Towers Resort (Large Visitor Attraction of the Year), The Brampton Museum (Small Visitor Attraction of the Year), and The Flintlock at Cheddleton (Independent Restaurant of the Year). 

Hoar Cross Hall was named Hotel of the Year, while The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone, retained Pub of the Year title, and the World of Wedgwood Tea Room won the Tea Room/Coffee Shop of the Year award. 

The Experience of the Year went to Nelson’s Distillery & School, for their Gin Still Experience, while New Business of the Year was The Play Barn @ Round Meadows Farm, near Leek, and Canalside Farm Shop, near Stafford, was the Food & Drink Retailer/Farm Shop of the Year. 

B&B and Guest House of the Year was Eagle House Eccleshall, and for the second year running the Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year award went to Weston Park Holiday Cottages, on the Staffordshire-Shropshire border. 

And there were wins for Alton Towers Resort’s Mick Thomas in the Unsung Hero category, Keele University Events & Conferencing (Business Events Venue of the Year) and National Memorial Arboretum, which was successful in the Accessible & Inclusive Tourism and the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism categories. 

Forestry England’s Forestry Recreation Team at Cannock Chase Forest were named Team of the Year, and the Rising Star Award went to Paige Burnham from Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent. 

There was also a special award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in Staffordshire presented to The Evans Family, owners of Denstone Hall Café & Farm Shop, near Uttoxeter, in recognition of their unwavering commitment to protecting the environment and supporting local food & drink producers. 

The winners of 14 categories progress to represent Staffordshire at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, to be held at the Rum Warehouse in Liverpool on 5th June 2024. 

Category sponsors at the 2024 Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism & Good Food Awards were Staffordshire University, Stephensons Catering Supplies, Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group, Stoke-on-Trent College, RH Advertising, Service Science, Pear OOH, Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Foster for Staffordshire and We Are Staffordshire. 

 

 

 

Here's the complete list of the 2024 winners. 

 

WINNERS – 2024 ENJOY STAFFORDSHIRE TOURISM & GOOD FOOD AWARDS 

 

Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award, sponsored by We are Staffordshire 

  • National Memorial Arboretum – GOLD 

  • Alton Towers Resort – SILVER 

  • The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – BRONZE 

 

B&B and Guest House of the Year 

  • Eagle House, Eccleshall – GOLD 

  • The Black Lion Inn, Butterton – SILVER 

  • St John’s House, Lichfield – BRONZE 

 

Business Events Venue of the Year 

  • Keele University Events & Conferencing – GOLD 

  • Aston Marina, Stone – SILVER 

  • The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – BRONZE 

 

Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year 

  • Duck Goose, Leek – GOLD 

  • Thyme Kitchen, Lichfield – SILVER 

  • The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer – BRONZE 

 

Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award, sponsored by Staffordshire University 

  • National Memorial Arboretum – GOLD 

  • Alton Towers Resort – SILVER 

  • Hoar Cross Hall – Joint BRONZE 

  • Eagle House, Eccleshall – Joint BRONZE 

  • The Trentham Estate – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED 

  • The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED 

 

Experience of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire University 

  • Gin Still Experience, Nelson’s Distillery & School – GOLD 

  • Throw A Pot Experience, Love Clay, Stoke-on-Trent – SILVER 

  • Alpaca Trekking, Wetley Moor Alpacas, near Leek – BRONZE 

  • Photography Workshop, Chappers Photography, near Abbots Bromley – HIGHLY COMMENDED 

 

Food & Drink Retailer or Farm Shop of the Year 

  • Canalside Farm Shop, near Stafford – GOLD 

  • Denstone Hall Farm Shop, near Uttoxeter – SILVER 

  • The Titanic Brewery Shop, Stoke-on-Trent – BRONZE 

 

Independent Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Stephensons Catering Supplies 

  • The Flintlock at Cheddleton – GOLD 

  • FEASTED, Stoke-on-Trent – Joint SILVER 

  • The Granary Restaurant at Weston Park – Joint SILVER 

  • Hoar Cross Hall – Joint BRONZE 

  • Little Seeds, Stone – Joint BRONZE 

  • Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent – HIGHLY COMMENDED 

 

Large Hotel of the Year, sponsored by Service Science 

  • Hoar Cross Hall – GOLD 

  • Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent – SILVER 

  • CBeebies Land Hotel, Alton Towers Resort – Joint BRONZE 

  • Drayton Manor Hotel, Drayton Manor Resort – Joint BRONZE 

 

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by Pear OOH 

  • Alton Towers Resort – GOLD 

  • National Memorial Arboretum – SILVER 

  • The Trentham Estate – Joint BRONZE 

  • World of Wedgwood – Joint BRONZE 

  • Drayton Manor Resort – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED 

  • Emma Bridgewater Factory – Joint HIGHLY COMMENDED 

 

 

 

New Tourism Business of the Year, sponsored by Staffordshire County Council 

  • The Play Barn @ Round Meadows Farm, near Leek – GOLD 

  • The Boat House Kitchen & Bakery by Pom’s, Barton Marina – SILVER 

  • Bobobo, Stafford – BRONZE 

  • The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer – HIGHLY COMMENDED 

 

Pub of the Year 

  • The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone – GOLD 

  • The Black Lion Inn, Butterton – SILVER 

  • The Star at Cotton – BRONZE 

  • The Bank House, Hixon – HIGHLY COMMENDED 

 

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

  • Paige Burnham, Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent – GOLD 

  • Harvey Tweats, The Trentham Estate – SILVER 

  • Cameron Sutton, World of Wedgwood – BRONZE 

  • Lucy Fletcher, Duck Goose – HIGHLY COMMENDED 

 

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year, sponsored by Foster for Staffordshire 

  • Weston Park Holiday Cottages – GOLD 

  • Ford Wetley Cottage, near Leek – SILVER 

  • The Apartment at Eagle House Eccleshall – BRONZE 

 

Small Hotel of the Year, sponsored by Stephensons Catering Supplies 

  • Walnut House, The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone – GOLD 

  • Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent – SILVER 

  • The Upper House, Barlaston – BRONZE 

 

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by RH Advertising 

  • The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – GOLD 

  • Tamworth Castle – SILVER 

  • Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke-on-Trent – BRONZE 

  • Middleport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent – HIGHLY COMMENDED 

 

Tea Room & Coffee Shop of the Year 

  • World of Wedgwood Tea Room – GOLD 

  • Pom’s Kitchen & Deli, Lichfield – SILVER 

  • Denstone Hall Café, near Uttoxeter – Joint BRONZE 

  • Canalside Farm, near Stafford – Joint BRONZE 

  • Ramblers Retreat Country Tea Room, Alton – HIGHLY COMMENDED 

 

Team of the Year, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent City Council 

  • Forestry England – Forestry Recreation Team, Cannock Chase Forest – GOLD 

  • The Trentham Estate – Events & Operations Team – SILVER 

  • Wetley Moor Alpacas – Walk Leaders – BRONZE 

 

Unsung Hero Award, sponsored by Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group 

  • Mick Thomas, Alton Towers Resort – GOLD 

  • Stephen Wood, The Trentham Estate – SILVER 

  • Lea Sherratt, Dovecliff Hall Hotel, near Burton upon Trent – BRONZE