VisitEngland announces Awards for Excellence Winners 2025
Lancashire business claims Bronze in national awards

Winner of Marketing Lancashire’s Lancashire Tourism Awards 2024, Eight at Gazegill, who progressed to the national Visit England Awards for Excellence 2025, have brought the Bronze award back to the county.
Ian O’Reilly and Emma Robbinson, owners of Gazegill Organics – the business behind Eight at Gazegill, were awarded the New Tourism Business of the Year accolade at the Annual Visit England Awards for Excellence which took place last night, Wednesday 4th June, at Brighton Dome Corn Exchange.
Vikki Harris, Marketing and Partnerships Director of Marketing Lancashire said: “We are proud of all our Lancashire tourism businesses, especially Eight at Gazegill for their achievement at the national awards.
Their win at the highest industry level reminds everyone of the quality and variety of product available in the county, as well as the reasons why we continue to see such growth in visitors to Lancashire
The business was just one of 27 to triumph on a county level at the Lancashire Tourism Awards in February and have now shown they are very worthy national winners too. Congratulations to Ian, Emma, Doug and the team.”
The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence champion the very best of England’s tourism industry celebrating quality, innovation, best practice and exceptional customer service.
The 51 finalists, announced following a rigorous judging process by handpicked tourism industry experts, went on to compete in 17 core categories at the national awards
Doug Crampton, Chef Patron of Eight at Gazegill said:
“This award is a fantastic recognition of everything we’ve poured into the food at Eight at Gazegill. Every dish we serve is a reflection of the land around us—from the organic farm to the foraged ingredients just beyond the kitchen door. It’s about more than flavour; it’s about telling a story through food, and I’m so proud of what we’ve created so far.”
Ian O’Reilly, Managing Director of Eight at Gazegill said:
“We’re incredibly proud to have received the Bronze Award in the New Tourism category at the VisitEngland Awards. To be recognised on a national stage as we go into only our second year of business shows we’ve got something really special. It’s a huge achievement for such a young business, and a real testament to the energy, passion and commitment of the whole team who’ve helped bring our vision to life.”
VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said:
“These annual Awards are an opportunity to applaud and showcase the businesses and individuals who provide outstanding customer service and continuously improve their products and offer for visitors.
“From a captivating science museum in Merseyside to a fully accessible hotel in Bournemouth, from cow cuddling on a farm in Yorkshire to fine dining in Lancashire, this year’s winners show just how varied and diverse our industry is and what makes it great.
“Competition this year was fierce, reflecting the excellence evident across each category and I congratulate all the 2025 winners, and especially those who won Gold, an achievement cementing their place as the standard bearers of our world-class tourism industry.”
VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025
List of Winners: (Lancashire winner highlighted in Red)
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award :
GOLD – Eureka! Science + Discovery(opens in a new tab), Merseyside
Silver – Marsham Court Hotel(opens in a new tab), Dorset
Bronze – The Courtyard(opens in a new tab), Herefordshire
B&B and Guest House of the Year:
GOLD – Sunnyside Guest House Southport(opens in a new tab), Merseyside
Silver – Abbots Grange Manor House(opens in a new tab), Worcestershire
Bronze – Boscastle House(opens in a new tab), Cornwall
Business Events Venue of the Year:
GOLD – Keele University Events and Conferencing(opens in a new tab), Staffordshire
Silver – Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement(opens in a new tab), Cheshire
Bronze – The Glasshouse International Centre for Music(opens in a new tab), Tyne & Wear
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year:
GOLD – Polmanter Touring Park(opens in a new tab), Cornwall
Silver – Mendip Basecamp(opens in a new tab), Somerset
Bronze – Hippersons Boatyard(opens in a new tab), Suffolk
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award sponsored by Sykes Holiday Cottages(opens in a new tab):
GOLD – Sunnyside Guest House Southport(opens in a new tab), Merseyside
Silver – The Quiet Site(opens in a new tab), Cumbria
Bronze – Battlesteads(opens in a new tab), Northumberland
Experience of the Year:
GOLD – Cow Cuddling, Dumble Farm(opens in a new tab), East Riding of Yorkshire
Silver – The Wizard Walk of York(opens in a new tab), North Yorkshire
Bronze – Introduction to Sailing, Mylor Sailing School(opens in a new tab), Cornwall
International Tourism Award:
GOLD – The Beatles Story(opens in a new tab), Merseyside
Silver – World of Wedgwood(opens in a new tab), Staffordshire
Bronze – St Mary’s Guildhall(opens in a new tab), West Midlands
Large Hotel of the Year sponsored by Ecclesiastical(opens in a new tab):
GOLD – Mallory Court Country House Hotel & Spa(opens in a new tab), Warwickshire
Silver – Sandburn Hall(opens in a new tab), North Yorkshire
Bronze – Titanic Hotel Liverpool(opens in a new tab), Merseyside
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year sponsored by Raw Charging Network Ltd(opens in a new tab):
GOLD – Black Country Living Museum(opens in a new tab), West Midlands
Silver – National Space Centre(opens in a new tab), Leicestershire
Bronze – Liverpool Football Club Tours & Experiences(opens in a new tab), Merseyside
New Tourism Business of the Year:
GOLD – Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum & Whisky Distillery(opens in a new tab), Northumberland
Silver – Eureka! Science + Discovery(opens in a new tab), Merseyside
Bronze – Eight at Gazegill(opens in a new tab) by Doug Crampton, Lancashire
Pub of the Year:
GOLD – The Farmers Arms(opens in a new tab), Devon
Silver – The Blind Bull(opens in a new tab), Derbyshire
Bronze – The Griffin Inn(opens in a new tab), Leicestershire
Self Catering Accommodation of the Year sponsored by Sykes Holiday Cottages(opens in a new tab):
GOLD – Treworgey Cottages(opens in a new tab), Cornwall
Silver – Trevase Cottages(opens in a new tab), Herefordshire
Bronze – Wolf Wood Treehouses(opens in a new tab), Devon
Small Hotel of the Year:
GOLD – Summer Lodge Country House Hotel(opens in a new tab), Dorset
Silver – Seaham Hall(opens in a new tab), County Durham
Bronze – The Montagu Arms Hotel(opens in a new tab), Hampshire
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year:
GOLD – No.1 Royal Crescent(opens in a new tab), Bath
Silver – King Richard III Visitor Centre(opens in a new tab), Leicestershire
Bronze – Sculpture by the Lakes(opens in a new tab), Dorset
Taste of England Award:
GOLD – The Cavendish Hotel(opens in a new tab), Derbyshire
Silver – Searcys at The Pump Room(opens in a new tab), Bath
Bronze – The Riverside at Aymestrey(opens in a new tab), Herefordshire
Unsung Hero Award:
GOLD – Hannah Clapp, Muncaster Castle(opens in a new tab), Cumbria
Silver – Caitlin Brown, The Escape Key(opens in a new tab), Tyne & Wear
Bronze – Andrew Hurley, Avoncroft Museum(opens in a new tab), Worcestershire
Travel Content Award:
GOLD – Jane Anderson, The i Paper – ‘The UK’s sunniest island vying to become a ‘sauna isle(opens in a new tab)’
Silver – Phoebe Smith, The Guardian – ‘Saving the seas one dive at a time in Northumberland(opens in a new tab)’
Bronze – Hannah Summers, The Times – ‘The British seaside town at its best (and cheapest) in winter(opens in a new tab)’
Tourism Superstar 2025 Award:
Southampton Saints
Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award:
Railway 200