Northumberland hotel and restaurant Battlesteads, near Wark, has been awarded one of the highest accolades in UK hospitality – the Sustainable Business Award at The Cateys 2019.

The Cateys, now in their 36^th year, recognise the most talented individuals, biggest brands and strongest performers in the hospitality industry. Chosen by a panel of highly-respected industry judges, the awards are the pinnacle of success in the hospitality industry.

Battlesteads received the coveted award for sustainability at a glittering awards ceremony on Tuesday 2 July, held at London's Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott hotel.

The hotel, restaurant and observatory has become famous for its eco-friendly initiatives, including achieving a carbon footprint six times lower than the industry average and championing local producers in Northumberland.

Battlesteads' sustainable tourism offering also includes a Dark Sky Observatory, with some of the clearest night skies in the country perfect for stargazing; five modern eco-lodges and a restaurant serving ingredients fresh from the hotel’s kitchen gardens and polytunnels. The hotel has previously been recognised for its sustainability by the Good Hotel Guide, the AA, and at the Visit England Awards for Excellence.

Owners of Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant, Richard and Dee Slade, said: "The Cateys really are considered 'the Oscars of hospitality', so to win this award, going up against such strong competition from across the country, is an outstanding achievement for us. Our goal has always been to show that being sustainable doesn’t have to mean sacrificing guest experience, and this award gives us a platform to share our ethos and expertise with the wider industry, driving forward innovation and putting Northumberland on the map for eco-tourism."

Read the Cateys Statement

Northumberland hotel and restaurant Battlesteads, near Wark, has been shortlisted for what is widely considered the Oscars of the hospitality industry – the Cateys 2019.

Battlesteads has been shortlisted for the Sustainable Business Award and will be going up against the best of British hospitality at the awards ceremony, held on 2 July at London's Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott hotel.

The Cateys, now in their 36th year, recognise the most talented individuals, biggest brands and strongest performers in the hospitality industry. The shortlist was chosen by a panel of industry judges selected for their expertise and industry knowledge, making the Cateys the ultimate accolade in peer group recognition.

Owner of Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant, Richard Slade, said: "The Cateys represent the best of the best in the hospitality industry, so I am absolutely thrilled that Battlesteads has been shortlisted this year. Over the past 10 years we have been striving to be the most sustainable hotel in the country, as well as championing tourism in Northumberland, and it feels fantastic to be recognised for this by the judges. We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for the ceremony in July, and hoping we bring back the trophy!"

Battlesteads Hotel offers a sustainable tourism experience combining a warm Northumberland welcome, accommodation including five eco-lodges, a restaurant showcasing the best local produce and home-grown ingredients, and a Dark Sky Observatory where visitors can discover the magic of the night skies.

The hotel has previously been recognised for its sustainability by the Good Hotel Guide, the AA, and at the Visit England Awards for Excellence.

Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant in Wark, Northumberland, is one of the three finalists to be shortlisted for the Sustainable Tourism Award at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2017.

Battlesteads was named the winner of the three categories at the North East England Tourism Awards in November 2016 – Sustainable Tourism, Tourism Pub and Taste – and was subsequently put forward along with the winners from all of the other UK regions to the VisitEngland judging panel.

The eco hotel’s outstanding green credentials shone through, and it will now go up against the Blencathra Centre in Keswick and the National Marine Aquarium in Devon at the final of the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, with the winner announced at a ceremony on 24 April.

Katie Meyrick-Scott, general manager of Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant, said: “Winning three golds at the North East Tourism Awards was a fantastic achievement, but to reach the final three of the national awards in the sustainability category is amazing news. Over the past 10 years we’ve worked hard to create a sustainable tourism experience that provides inspiration to both our guests and the rest of the hospitality industry, and it’s fantastic to see that rewarded with the recognition from VisitEngland.”

In 2016 Battlesteads won numerous industry awards for its commitment to sustainability, including 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.

After a record-breaking year of local and national awards success, Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant is celebrating once again after being named Sustainable Hotel of the Year at the Hotel Cateys. 

The prestigious hotel industry award was presented to Battlesteads on Friday 25 November at a ceremony attended by more than 750 leading industry figures held at London’s Park Plaza Westminster Bridge.

The Hotel Catey award is the 11^th award to be won by Battlesteads in 2016, making it their most successful year to date. 

Known as one of the UK’s top sustainable tourism destinations, Battlesteads has won several awards for its sustainability and eco-friendliness including 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. 

Battlesteads also won the 2016 Good Hotel Guide Cesar Award for Best Value, was named the Best Pub in the North East at the National Pub & Bar Awards and won five trophies at the North East Tourism Awards: three Gold Awards for Sustainable Tourism, Tourism Pub and the Taste Award; Bronze Award for Hotel of the Year and Highly Commended Award for Dog Friendly Business. 

Richard Slade, owner of Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant, said: “I am delighted that Battlesteads has been named Sustainable Hotel of the Year at this year’s Hotel Cateys; it’s the perfect end to an award-winning year. I would like to thank all the team at the hotel for their hard work which has contributed to our success and I look forward to seeing what 2017 has to hold for Battlesteads.” 

We are now celebrating after winning a record three Gold awards at the 2016 North East Tourism Awards.

We achieved the Gold Awards for Sustainable Tourism, Tourism Pub and the Taste Award, as well as winning a Bronze in the Hotel of the Year category and a Highly Commended Award for Dog Friendly Business. 

This is the first time in the history of the awards that a business has won three Gold Awards in the same year. 

Katie Meyrick-Scott, general manager of Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant, said: “We are absolutely over the moon to have won not just one but three North East Tourism Gold Awards. To also receive Bronze and Highly Commended awards in two further categories is a huge achievement for us and is fantastic recognition for the hard work of all the team. We’re now looking forward to representing the North East at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in 2017”.

Organised and delivered by the NewcastleGateshead Initiative in partnership with the Northern Tourism Alliance, the North East England Tourism Awards showcase the high quality tourism businesses and experiences on offer to visitors to the region. The winner of each category is automatically entered into the annual VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, which will take place in April 2017.

Sarah Stewart, Chief Executive at destination management and marketing organisation NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said “A huge congratulations to Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant for winning three golds at this year’s North East England Tourism Awards. As always the businesses shortlisted were of an extremely high standard so to not only win one gold award but three is a great achievement. The North East of England has a fantastic tourism offer, and Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant are one of many businesses playing a key role in welcoming visitors to the region.”

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

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.