Hotels, B&Bs and glamping sites across the region have been rewarded for the first-class experiences they offer their guests.
The spotlight is on nine venues across the North East which have won VisitEngland's 2022 Rose Award for giving customers "the warmest of welcomes". There are 100 winners in total throughout England, in another boost for a hospitality industry still recovering after being hard hit by Covid.
The VisitEngland awards recognise top accommodation providers, irrespective of their star rating, style or type of accommodation, where owners, management and employees provide outstanding experiences for their guests. They are making a comeback this year - the sixth event - for the first time since the pandemic.
Read more: North East spas make awards shortlist
Amongst the North East winners are hotels, self-catering venues, cottages, B&Bs and glamping sites. Here are the nine local success stories.
Doxford Hall Hotel and Spa
This hotel in Alnwick, Northumberland, is set in 10 acres of grounds: www.doxfordhall.com
Fairfield House
A five-star country house in Stanhope, Bishop Auckland, which provides self-catering accommodation: fairfieldinweardale.co.uk
Grey Hens
At Paperhaugh near Rothbury, Northumberland, this offers self-catering cottages: coquetcottages.co.uk
Greycroft
This is a 1895 Victorian property in Alnwick, Northumberland, offering B&B accommodation: www.greycroftalnwick.co.uk
Greystead Old Church
This unique self-catering option at this Hexham site is a converted, listed former Georgian church. There's an old coach house too: www.greysteadholidaycottages.com
Heavenfield Cottage
At Wall, near Hexham in Northumberland, this is billed as a luxury self-catering holiday cottage: www.stoswaldsfarm.co.uk
Mill Granary Glamping
The glamping option on offer here at this Darlington site is the romantic Shepherd's Hut: www.millgranary.co.uk
The Pheasant Inn
Based at Hexham, this is guest accommodation in a traditional Northumberland pub: www.thepheasantinn.com
Tutors Lodge - Kidlandlee Holiday Cottages
This self-catering accommodation in Morpeth, Northumberland, includes both holiday cottages and barn conversions: www.kidlandlee.co.uk
The award winners were nominated by VisitEngland’s quality scheme assessors and selected from assessor comments and online feedback from overseas and domestic visitors.
Announcing the award winners, VisitEngland director Andrew Stokes said: “It is great to see the Rose Awards back as we celebrate and congratulate accommodation businesses across England excelling at customer service and creating stand-out experiences that keep visitors coming back time-after-time.
"The awards are also a wonderful showcase of the sheer scale of outstanding accommodation across England with visitors truly spoilt for choice.” The winners can now advertise their award as long as they remain within the VisitEngland quality scheme.
For the full list of this year's winners see here. Tourism is said to be one of England’s most valuable industries, with businesses employing about 2.6m people and, in 2019, generating £76bn in domestic visitor spending.
Read more
North East spas make awards shortlist
