A raft of Stafford Borough businesses will be vying for top spot at the county-wide tourism awards next week.

Restaurants, pubs, and venues are around ten businesses and people representing the borough at the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Tourism Awards on Thursday (19 March).

Council leader, Aidan Godfrey, said the number of local premises shortlisted was testament to the quality of offer there was in the borough which provided a boost to the visitor economy.

The awards are sponsored by the University of Staffordshire and this year saw a record 155 entries from across the region. A shortlist of 51 will be competing for gold in several categories - with many of the winners going on to represent Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent at the national ‘Visit England Awards for Excellence’ in June.

Categories include ‘Business Events Venue of the Year’, ‘Small Serviced Accommodation of the Year’ and ‘Pub of the Year.’ Shortlisted in the ‘Unsung Hero Award’ is Keith Harrison, Marketing Manager at the Stafford Gatehouse Theatre - which is run by Freedom Leisure on behalf of the Borough Council.

The full list of those shortlisted from the borough, and the categories they are competing in, are: 

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award

• The Trentham Estate

Business Events Venue of the Year

• Beaconside Conferencing and Events Centre
• Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat

Experience of the Year

• Moddershall Luxe Spa Stay, Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

• The Trentham Estate

Pub of the Year

• Fitzherbert Arms, Swynnerton
• The Little George, Eccleshall

Regenerative Tourism Award

• Eagle House, Eccleshall

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year

• Eagle House Apartment, Eccleshall

Small Serviced Accommodation of the Year

• Eagle House, Eccleshall
• Fitzherbert Farmhouse, Swynnerton
• Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat

Team of the Year

• Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat

Unsung Hero Award

• Duncan Coleman, Trentham Estate
• Keith Harrison, Gatehouse Theatre

Councillor Godfrey, said: “I am really proud to see so many borough businesses in the running for these very competitive awards. They provide an offer and service that encourages people to come and stay in our area and that is vital for a healthy local economy.

“I hope they enjoy the recognition they richly deserve and I thank them for their contribution in helping make our borough a great place to visit time and time again.”

For more information, visit www.visitstaffordshire.com/awards

Press Release No 6277