The Leicestershire Tourism and Hospitality Awards are one of the highlights of the calendar and this year’s awards, hosted by Leicestershire Promotions at Leicester Athena, were no exception. Nominees and their guests were treated to a delicious three course meal and a spectacular acrobatics show, before the awards ceremony began.

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In their 12th year, the awards serve as the regional heat of the national Visit England Awards for Excellence. Many of the winners will go forward as Leicestershire’s nominations for the national awards. There were four themed sections for the awards, celebrating the people who make the sector so special, great places to eat, places to stay and fabulous things to see and do.

You can see all the winners below, congratulations to them all and to everyone who was shortlisted!

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Proud of our People

Rising Star

Winner: Tom Marsden, College Court Conference Centre and Hotel

Highly Commended: Jefferson Dinesh Padilla Males, 1573 Bar & Grill

Commended: Marta Matzutzi, Stapleford Park Hotel

Best Team

Winner: Winstanley House

Highly Commended: Belmont Hotel

Commended: Moira Furnace

Best Waiting Staff

Winner: Karolina Drazewska ­– Stapleford Park

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism

Winner: Rothley Wine Estate

Highly Commended: Timber Festival

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism

Winner: Hotel Brooklyn, Leicester

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Places to Eat and Drink

Best Breakfast

Winner: Rustic Kitchen and Deli

Pub of the Year 

Winner: The Griffin Inn

Highly Commended: Tap & Run

Best Sunday Lunch

Winner: Black Iron at Winstanley House Hotel

Best Casual Dining

Winner: Rustic Kitchen & Deli

Highly Commended: 1573 Bar & Grill

Best Tearoom/Coffee Shop

Winner: Wistow Café Bistro

Fine Dining Restaurant

Winner: Restaurant 263

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Great Places to Stay

Business Events Venue

Winner: Novotel Leicester

Highly Commended: Imago Venues

Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park

Winner: Ettie’s Field

Highly Commended: Brook Meadow

Self-Catering Accommodation

Winner: Brook Meadow

Highly Commended: Hall Farm Dadlington

Highly Commended: The Gresham Aparthotel

Small Hotel

Winner: Winstanley House

Highly Commended: St Martins Lodge

Bed and Breakfast and Guest House

Winner: Holywell House

Highly Commended: B&B at No. 3

Large Hotel

Winner: Stapleford Park

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Fabulous Things to See and Do

Best Free Event

Winner: Cosby Yarn Bomb

Winner: Punk: Rage & Revolution

Highly Commended: Snap Dragon Children and Family Festival

Best Event or Festival with Admission Charge

Winner: Leicester Comedy Festival

Highly Commended: Timber Festival

Experience of the Year

Winner: The Spa at Breedon Priory

Highly Commended: Everards Brewery Tour at Everards of Leicestershire

Small Visitor Attraction

Winner: Windmill Farm Park

Highly Commended: King Richard III Visitor Centre

Large Visitor Attraction

Winner: National Space Centre

Best Entertainment Venue

Winner: Loughborough Town Hall

Putting Leicestershire on the Map

Winner: Everards of Leicestershire

Best Day Out in Leicestershire (supported by Visit Leicester)

Winner: Great Central Railway

Highly Commended: National Space Centre

Commended: Peter le Marchant Trust

Commended : Bradgate Park

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Special Award

Outstanding Contribution to Tourism

This special award, sponsored by Novotel Leicester, recognises the 60^th anniversary of the opening of the Phoenix Theatre, the 50^th anniversary of the opening of the Haymarket Theatre and 15 years since Curve opened, the award was presented to the Leicester Theatre Trust, the body that has sat behind these theatres for all that time.

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