Gin, zombies and Harry Potter – all winning ingredients at the Visit York Tourism Awards 2019!
Sixteen businesses took away gongs in the National Railway Museum ceremony last night (Thursday 20 June).
Two new categories were introduced this year with York Gin scooping the title of ‘Best Tourism Supplier’ and Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre being crowned for their efforts in ‘Innovation in Tourism’.
The ‘Tourism Champion’ crown was passed on from last year’s winner Ann Deller to James Cundall. James was recognised for his outstanding contribution to tourism and culture in York.
As chief executive of Lunchbox Productions, James is the driving force behind the first ever pop-up Shakespearean theatre in Europe that wowed crowds in York over the summer of 2018.
The team behind the York Hallowscream were frightfully pleased with the ‘Visitor Experience of the Year’ accolade.
And it was a magical night for The Shop That Must Not Be Named, named ‘Shop of the Year’ for their spellbinding ability to bring people from around the globe to experience the world of Harry Potter wizardry.
The winners in full
Pub or Bar of the Year
Winner: Walmgate Ale House
Finalists:
Cut & Chase
The Whippet Inn
Self Catering Venue of the Year
Winner: York Old Brewery
Highly Commended: The House at Crooked End
Finalists:
Studford Luxury Lodges
Conference Venue of the Year
Winner: The Principal York
Finalists:
The Grand, York
York Racecourse
Newcomer of the Year
Winner: Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre
Finalists:
Roots York
The Enchantment Chamber
Bed & Breakfast or Guest House of the Year
Winner: Tower Guest House
Finalists:
No. 21 York
Tourism Supplier of the Year
Winner: York Gin
Biffa
Pick & Mix Marketing
Pyper York
Hotel of the Year
Winner: Grays Court Hotel
Finalists:
Hotel Indigo
The Black Swan Hotel
The Grand, York
The Principal York
Visitor Attraction of the Year (Over 50K Visitors)
Winner: City Cruises York
Finalists:
Flamingo Land Resort
JORVIK Viking Centre
The York Dungeon
Yorkshire Museum
Visitor Attraction of the Year (under 50K visitors)
Winner: World of James Herriot
Finalists:
The Black Sheep Brewery
The Ghost Bus Tours
York Army Museum
Guided Tour of the Year
Winner: The Bloody Tour of York
Finalists:
Castle Howard
City Cruises York
York’s Chocolate Story
Restaurant of the Year
Winner: Roots, York
Finalists:
The Whippet Inn
The Chopping Block
Vaqueiros Brazilian Rodizio
Café or Tearoom of the Year
Winner: The Principal Hotel Garden Room
Finalist:
Crumbs Cupcakery
The Balloon Tree Farmshop & Café
The Countess of York
Shop of the Year
Winner: The Shop That Must Not Be Named
Finalists:
Demijohn
The Balloon Tree Farmshop & Café
Wild & Westbrooke
Innovation in Tourism
Winner: Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre
Highly Commended: Yorkshire’s Jurassic World at the Yorkshire Museum
Finalist:
Castle Howard
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
The Grand, York
Visitor Experience of the Year
Winner: York Maze Hallowscream
Finalists:
The Bloody Tour of York
JORVIK Viking Festival
Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre
Visit York Tourism Champion 2019
Awarded to: James Cundall
Tourism champion James Cundall
In 2018 James brought Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre to York for a summer season of the Bard’s best known plays in the first ever pop-up Elizabethan theatre in Europe.
The success of this inaugral run has allowed them to expand both to Blenheim Palace and York again for 2019, enabling thousands of people to experience the works of Shakespeare in a unique setting.
James is also the creative mind behind York’s annual outdoor Christmas ice-rink, The Ice Factor.
Paul Whiting, head of Visit York, said: “James has been involved in many high-profile events and experiences and we are fortunate that he has chosen his home city as host.
“Initiatives such as Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre have absolutely evolved York’s offer and brought the city to a wider audience across the globe. We could think of no one more deserving of the crown of Tourism Champion this year, as his passion and commitment to everything he does shines through.
“We are delighted to be able to recognise his hard work tonight.”