We are delighted to have been shortlisted in a fantastic five categories of this year’s North East England Tourism Awards.

Our hotel, restaurant and observatory is a finalist in more categories than any other business, being up for Hotel of the Year, Tourism Pub, Sustainable Tourism, Dog Friendly Business and the Taste Award.

The North East England Tourism Awards showcase the range of high quality tourism businesses and experiences on offer to visitors to the region. Winners of the awards, to be announced on 22 November, will go forward to represent the North East at the annual VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in 2017.

Katie, General Manager, said: “On behalf of all the team at Battlesteads, we are delighted to have been shortlisted in five categories for this year’s North East England Tourism Awards. The North East is home to so many fantastic tourism and hospitality businesses and so it is an honour to be recognised by the leading tourism awards in the region. We are looking forward to celebrating with all of the other shortlisted businesses at the awards ceremony.”

The North East England Tourism Awards are organised and delivered by NewcastleGateshead Initiative in partnership with the Northern Tourism Alliance.

Sarah Stewart, Chief Executive at destination management and marketing organisation NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said “It’s fantastic to have another record breaking year for entries and I’m delighted to see so many new businesses enter the awards.

“The tourism sector continues to thrive as the quality and variety of tourism businesses in the North East of England maintain such a high standard. I’m always impressed to see the outstanding work the finalists have delivered and I look forward to celebrating their achievements with them at the awards ceremony in November.”

More information about the awards can be found at www.NorthEastTourismAwards.com.

Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant in Wark, Northumberland, has been named Eco Hotel of the Year at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards.

The 22-bedroom hotel and restaurant was awarded the accolade for its ongoing commitment to sustainability, positive contributions made to reducing its environmental impact and for its dedication to raising industry standards.

Battlesteads’ owners Richard and Dee Slade and general manager Katie Meyrick attended the awards ceremony held at the Grosvenor House hotel in London on Monday, 26 September, where the trophy was presented to them by actor and comedian Hugh Dennis.

In the 11 years since Richard and Dee took over the hotel, they have worked hard to establish Battlesteads as one of the UK’s leading tourism destinations. This has included reducing the hotel’s carbon footprint to less than a fifth of the industry average, expanding sustainably with five new eco lodges and becoming the only hotel in the UK with an onsite observatory.

Richard Slade, owner of Battlesteads said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been named Eco Hotel of the Year by the AA Hospitality Awards – one of the most well-respected awards in the industry. We really do pride ourselves on our sustainability and commitment to our ‘green’ principles so it’s fantastic to be recognised by that. Hopefully we can provide inspiration to other hotels looking to increase their own environmental policies and practices and help made the tourism industry greener as whole.”

Battlesteads has previously been recognised for its sustainability with other industry awards, including the Considerate Hoteliers Special Commendation Award 2015, a Platinum level rating in TripAdvisor’s GreenLeaders Programme in 2014, Hotel Cateys Green Hotel of the Year 2011 and a Gold Star Award at the 2011 Green Tourism Awards. The hotel and restaurant also has Three Star Sustainability Champion status, awarded by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA).

Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant in Wark, Northumberland, has cemented its status as one of the most sustainable hotels in the country by massively reducing its carbon footprint.

Well-known for its ‘green’ credentials, Battlesteads’ carbon footprint report reveals the hotel and restaurant’s emissions have decreased by 77.5% since 2012 to just 5.23kg CO2 per room per night in 2015. Despite the hotel’s increased occupancy following the addition of five new eco-lodges in 2015, Battlesteads is continuing to set the standard for sustainable hotels across the country.

Whilst the hotel’s carbon footprint is already considerably lower than the industry average of 31.1kg CO2 per room per night, Battlesteads isn’t stopping there and owners Richard and Dee Slade’s key objective for this year is to reduce their carbon footprint even further, with the aim to achieve less than 4.5kg CO2 per room per night by the end of the year.
One of the biggest influencing factors in the reduction of Battlesteads’ carbon footprint has been the switch to green energy provider ‘Ecotricity’ in January 2014. In addition to producing green energy, Battlesteads generate solar energy on site, 50% of which is used by Battlesteads and 50% which is sold to Ecotricity.

Battlesteads has been recognised for its commitment to environmental practices with multiple awards and has recently been shortlisted for Eco Hotel of the Year at the AA Hospitality Awards.

The shortlist recognises Battlesteads’ clear commitment to sustainability, demonstrated through good practice and policy to make a positive contribution to reducing its impact on the environment.

Richard Slade, owner of Battlesteads said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for Eco Hotel of the Year. Sustainability is something we pride ourselves on and the award really reflects our commitment to environmental practices. Since extending the hotel to offer more accommodation it was always going to be tough to keep up with our commitments to the environment so it’s great to see we’ve been able to sustain our eco principles and reduce our carbon footprint so greatly”.

Other awards given to Battlesteads for its sustainability include the Considerate Hoteliers Special Commendation Award 2015, a Platinum level rating in TripAdvisor’s GreenLeaders Programme in 2014, Hotel Cateys Green Hotel of the Year 2011 and a Gold Star Award at the 2011 Green Tourism Awards. The hotel and restaurant also has Three Star Sustainability Champion status, awarded by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA).

Join us for an odds on winning day of fizz, fillies and fabulous food at Battlesteads to celebrate Ascot Ladies Day on Thursday 16 June. Enjoy all the action of Royal Ascot from the comfort of the bar and restaurant as we bring the thrill of this exciting event to Northumberland. It’s the perfect excuse to get together with friends, dress to impress and don that statement hat.

Ascot Ladies Day at Battlesteads costs £20 per person and includes:
Glass of fizz on arrival Summer buffet lunch Selection of desserts Bar side Tote
So pick your winners and head over for starters orders from 12.30pm

Plus free entry to the Battlesteads ‘Best in Show’ competition for the best hat or fascinator worn. Your chance to win dinner for two on us worth £55.00. Winner will be announced after the last race of the day. The stakes are high for a fun day out.

To reserve your trackside place email info@battlesteads.com or call 01434 230209

Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant in Wark, near Hexham, has been named the Best Pub in the North East at the National Pub & Bar Awards.

The accolade was presented to Battlesteads at an awards ceremony on Tuesday 24 May, held at London’s BAFTA theatre. The sustainable hotel and restaurant was previously chosen as the county winner for Northumberland by a judging panel from leading industry magazine Pub & Bar, before being voted as the best in the region.

Entrants to the awards were judged on all aspects of pub hospitality, from perfect service and product range to aesthetic design and entertainment. Battlesteads was chosen for its friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable staff, wide range of local and national cask ales, well-travelled list of sustainable and biodynamic wines and fantastic food featuring home-grown ingredients and locally sourced produce.

Battlesteads beat tough competition from across Northumberland, Durham and Tyne and Wear to walk away with the title of Best Pub in the North East. The award was presented by one of the UK’s leading food and restaurant critics and journalist for The Observer, Jay Rayner.

Speaking after the awards ceremony, owner of Battlesteads Richard Slade said: “When we found out we had been chosen as the county winner for Northumberland, we were absolutely delighted. To then go on to be named the best pub in whole of the North East is a great honour and the whole team is celebrating this fantastic achievement. We are proud to be flying the flag for all of the other brilliant pubs in the North East and we’d like to thank the judges for choosing us as the winner.”

Tristan O’Hana, editor of Pub & Bar magazine said: “This is a brilliant achievement for Battlesteads, and for all our county and regional winner – they can now celebrate the fact that they are the best in their area. It was an absolute pleasure to reward and acknowledge these incredible businesses at what was none other than a celebration of standout hospitality and business practice. This selection of pubs and bars shows just what a fantastic industry the UK on-trade is.”

Thursday 21st July to Sunday 24th July
Over 20 beers, ciders and foreign lagers to try

NEW FOR 2016 GIN BAR
Selection of 8 fabulous gins

Bands include:
Friday 22nd The Stax Brothers
Saturday 23rd (afternoon) The Mudskippers
Saturday 23rd (evening) Alive and Kicking

Admission
Thursday evening 6pm until 11pm FREE
Friday and Saturday 12noon until 11pm £4
CAMRA members £3
Sunday afternoon 12 noon until the beer runs out FREE