Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant in Wark, Northumberland, is celebrating after being named Best Hotel in Northumberland and being awarded the title of Overall Winner at the Northumberland Tourism Awards 2017.
Described by the judges of the awards as "truly a jewel in Northumberland's tourism crown", Battlesteads has built a name for itself as one of the top sustainable tourism destinations in the country.
The hotel features 22 en-suite bedrooms including five eco-lodges, recently refurbished restaurant and bar, extensive kitchen gardens and polytunnels and is the only hotel in the UK with its own on-site observatory.
The judges of the inaugural Northumberland Tourism Awards, which aim to celebrate the accommodation providers, attractions and other tourism businesses that make Northumberland's booming visitor industry a success, also said of Battlesteads: "The attention to detail is amazing, from its sustainability policy and catering for disabilities to the incredible range of local produce on their menu."
Owner of Battlesteads Hotel, Richard Slade, collected the award at a ceremony held at Alnwick Castle on Thursday 22 June.
Speaking after the ceremony, Richard Slade said: "I am delighted that Battlesteads has been named not only the Best Hotel, but also the Overall Winner at the first Northumberland Tourism Awards. It’s extremely important to us at Battlesteads to celebrate and champion our home county, from supporting small local producers to representing Northumberland on a national stage within the hotel and hospitality industry."
Paul Larkin, editor of the Northumberland Gazette, which co-organised the awards, said: "The entry from Battlesteads Hotel was very strong and focused. It was a model that others should follow. The hotel has already performed extremely well at regional and national competition and proudly flies the flag for Northumberland. I'm sure guests to the hotel benefit from the considerable effort put in to looking after visitors to this wonderful county of ours.
"In a competitive category, where standards are naturally high, Battlesteads achieved Gold status and took Hotel of the Year crown. It also justly won the Overall Tourism Business of the Year award for 2017. Keep up the good work!"
Previous awards won by Battlesteads include the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence Sustainable Business Gold, the Hotel Catey Award for Best Sustainable Hotel, the AA Hospitality Award for Eco Hotel of the Year, the People.Energy.Action award for eco-friendly travel business and the Good Hotel Guide Editor’s Choice Award for Best Green Hotel.
