Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant in Wark, Northumberland, has been named the Gold award winner in the Sustainable Tourism Business category at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2017.

One of the UK’s leading eco hotels, Battlesteads’ sustainable credentials have seen them go from winning the North East England Sustainable Tourism Award in November 2016, through to being shortlisted by the national judges to compete against the Blencathra Centre in Keswick and the National Marine Aquarium in Devon, to win the coveted Gold accolade.

Owners of Battlesteads Hotel, Richard and Dee Slade, collected the award at a ceremony held in London on Monday 24 April.

Speaking after the ceremony, Richard Slade said: “We have won almost every leading hotel industry award for sustainability, as well as several North East Tourism awards, but to win the national Visit England Award for Excellence really is the icing on the cake. We are extremely proud of everything we have achieved and we hope to inspire more hotels and tourism businesses to improve their sustainability and introduce more eco-friendly initiatives.”

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.

VisitEngland chief executive Sally Balcombe added: “This year’s awards were fiercely contested and we had some terrific applications, showcasing not only the excellence on offer within English tourism but also the outstanding innovation and the sheer diversity of experiences throughout the country. From afternoon tea in a railway carriage to ‘Alice in Wonderland’ boutique hotel rooms, from great family friendly animal attractions to cottages for one, all well deserved the recognition of their quality and service.”

More information about the awards can be found at www.visitenglandawards.org

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

24th to 26th July 2015

5th Beer Festival with great beers, lager, ciders, food and live music throughout the weekend, bands noted below:

Friday 24th – Miss Mary and The Mr Rights

Saturday 25th (afternoon) – The Mudskippers

Saturday 25th (evening) – Alive and Kicking

Come and join us to celebrate the 4th Battlesteads Beer Festival!

The festival doors swing open at 4pm until 11pm on Friday 25th July, Saturday 26th July 12 noon until 11pm, and Sunday 27th July 12 noon until the beer runs out!

Bands to include:

25th July PM - Happy Cats

26th July AM The Mudskippers

26th July PM Alive and Kicking

Tickets: £4 per person including commemorative glass and programme (CAMRA members £3)

For accommodation please email us or call 01434 230209 asking for Katie for further details.

Barrel and Programme sponsorship packages are available, please email for further details.

They say that two’s company and three’s a crowd, well a crowd is exactly what’s expected at the third annual Battlesteads Beer Fest, taking place Friday 26th to Sunday 28th July at the popular pub, hotel and restaurant in Wark, near Hexham.

Battlesteads owner Richard Slade said: “The Beer Fest has been getting busier every year so we’re expecting a great turnout. We’re dusting off the marquee, racking up the beers and striking up the band in readiness. We’re just praying for the sun to shine now!”

Now a permanent fixture in the Northumberland events calendar, the Beer Fest draws lovers of beer and live music – as well as a loyal Battlesteads fan base – from as far away as Manchester.

As usual, there will be live music and hot and cold food from the highly renowned Battlesteads kitchen available throughout the weekend. As an added attraction this year, the team at Battlesteads have worked with Claire Watson-Laney of Northumberland Sausage Company, which is also based in Wark, to produce some exclusive new sausages in time for the festival. Brave visitors can try The Raging Norris, the hottest sausage in the world, but Claire also promises a few exotic delights to appease a variety of appetites and palettes.

The beer, lager and cider list runs to 19 this year with the usual local breweries supported as well as a smattering of international guest brews. Visitors to the event will help to raise funds for the Great North Air Ambulance, which also benefited from £500 raised at the 2011 inaugural Beer Fest. Accommodation packages are available for anyone wishing to make the most of the whole weekend.

The fun starts at 4pm on Friday 26th July and carries on until the beer runs out on Sunday 28th July. Tickets cost just £4 including programme and commemorative glass. CAMRA members can purchase discounted tickets for £3. The music line up is:

• Friday night – The Happycats
• Saturday afternoon – The Katy Freeway
• Saturday night – Little Stevie and The Business

For further information and tickets, call Battlesteads on 01434 230 209, email info@battlesteads.com or visit www.battlesteadsbeerfestival.co.uk 

Straw-coloured pale ales, nutty, ruby-red beers, a fruity cider and characterful bitters that pack a punch! There’s something for everyone in the beer line-up for the second annual Battlesteads Beer Fest taking place at the popular Wark pub, hotel and restaurant from Friday 13^th to Sunday 15^th July.

Popular ales from local breweries will be joined by beers, lagers and ciders from elsewhere in the UK and Europe, such as Thornbridge, Dark Star, Abbeydale and Rudgate, either in the marquee located in Battlesteads’ beautiful walled garden or on hand pump in the bar.

Attendees at the Beer Fest will enjoy a fantastic selection of music throughout the weekend from local talent, including Mr Funkster, The Katy Freeway, Alive and Kicking and The Happycats. Meanwhile, the Battlesteads kitchen team are conjuring up a menu of delicious foodie treats to deal with the mid-session munchies, so everyone is set to have a great time.

Multi-award winning Battlesteads has an impressive reputation for great beers as a member of CAMRA North East and a proud recipient of the Cask Marque; a sure sign its real ales are up to scratch

Beer Fest admission includes a commemorative glass and programme and costs £4. Members of CAMRA pay just £3. Always keen to support a good cause, Battlesteads staff and customers will be raising money for the Tynedale Hospice throughout the event.

Beer Fest organiser and Battlesteads assistant general manager Katie Meyrick commented: “Visitors to last year’s Beer Fest will remember the torrential rain but we still had a great time – the beer flowed, the hog roasted and the music entertained. This year, we’re praying for sunshine and we’ve increased the fun by adding music to each session. Four great local bands playing great music, a range of tasty treats and some superb beers to wash it all down with. We’ve been looking forward to this all year!�

Tickets can be purchased via the website www.battlesteads.com, over the phone 01434 230 209 or in person from the hotel.