Five North businesses up for 2010 Enjoy England Awards

Feb 24 2010 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

FIVE businesses from the region are in the running for prestigious national tourism awards.

The Old School bed and breakfast, at Newton-on-the-Moor, near Alnwick; The North Music Trust, based at The Sage Gateshead; Sunderland Football Club; Doxford Cottages, near Alnwick, and Hunting Hall, at Beal, near Berwick, have all been shortlisted for the 2010 Enjoy England Awards For Excellence.

The awards, known as the Oscars of the tourism industry, are organised by VisitEngland and recognise tourism excellence in a number of areas.

The finalists were selected by a board of industry judges from 15 winners at the 2009 North East England Tourism Awards last October.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on St George’s Day, April 23, in Brighton.

The Old School B&B is going for gold for the second year in a row. Last year the five-star B&B won best tourism website and this year it is competing in the B&B category.

Malcolm Downes, who runs the business with his wife Kath, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been nominated again for the national awards.

“We won silver in the best B&B of the year category in 2007 so we are hoping we can go one better this year.

“Awards such as these really help to raise the profile of a business and it is a fantastic accolade for us and the other regional businesses nominated.”

Hunting Hall, an eco friendly holiday cottage, is in the running in the sustainable tourism category.