The best tourist attractions in Leicestershire have been singled out at the 2022 Leicestershire Promotions Tourism and Hospitality Awards.
The event celebrated the businesses, organisations, people and attractions which have done the most to put the city and county on the national and international map.
Winners included hotels, restaurants, museums, bars and tourist trails as well as food and drinks businesses and country parks.
Best large visitor attraction was Bradgate Park, while the King Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester city centre was named best small visitor attraction. The visitor sits on the site of the grave of Richard III which was unearthed exactly a decade ago.
Richard Everard OBE, DL, who heads up the Everards beer and pub family which has a new brewery near junction 21 of the M1, was named the Tourism Superstar.
Discover Charnwood, the destination brand created by Charnwood Borough Council, picked up the best marketing campaign while the Into the Outwoods Sculpture Trail, held at the Outwoods in Charnwood Forest, won best free event of the year.
Stonehurst Farm in Mountsorrel was commended in the small visitor attraction of the year category.
Charnwood council’s head of leisure and culture, Sylvia Wright, was also given a special commendation for her commitment and dedication to the tourism sector for many years.
She said: “I was thrilled to receive a special commendation.
“I have always had a passion to support the local tourism economy and Charnwood is blessed with many great businesses and unique heritage to attract people to this area. Charnwood has a fascinating tale to tell.
“I would like to thank all my colleagues and our partners for their support over the years as it really is a team effort.”
Now in its 12th year, the awards are organised by Leicestershire Promotions and are the regional heat of the national Visit England Awards for Excellence.
Ten of the winners will proceed to the shortlist of the national awards. Last year, two of the regional winners went on to pick up national awards.
