Essex Tourism Awards 2011
The best of the Essex Tourism Industry was celebrated on the 13 October 2011, showcasing the high quality attractions and accommodation that the county has to offer.
The third Essex Tourism Awards took place at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Stansted, providing a great opportunity to celebrate the success of the tourism industry and reward those businesses who help to make Essex a great place to visit.
The standard of competition was high, with Audley End House & Gardens winning Best Large Essex attraction; Bridge End Gardens in Saffron Walden the Best Small Essex attraction and Southend-on-Sea picking up the prized title of Tourist Information Centre of the year.
The newly opened Lifehouse Country Spa Resort in Thorpe-le-Soken was presented with the Best Large Hotel award and the Business Tourism award went to Down Hall Country House Hotel . TheRose & Crown in Colchester was awarded Best Small Hotel and the Five Star Park Hall Country House in St Osyth was presented with the Best B&B award. The Thatched Cottages in Burnham-on-Crouch won the Best Self-Catering award and Waldegraves on West Mersea celebrated being awarded with Best Holiday Park for the second year running.
The Best Tourism Experience award went to Rope Runners , the high rope adventure course in Brentwood and the Witham International Puppet Festival picked up Best Event/Festival. Colchester Guide, Dick Barton, was awarded for his outstanding customer service; the Marriott Hotel won the Sustainable Tourism Award and the Mercury Theatre was awarded the Access for All accolade for the second year running.
All of those shortlisted will now be put through to the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence.
Winners:
- Best Small Essex Attraction: Bridge End Gardens, Saffron Walden
- Best Large Essex Attraction: Audley End House & Gardens, Saffron Walden
- Best Large Hotel: Lifehouse, Thorpe-le-Soken
- Best Small Hotel: Best Western Rose & Crown, Colchester
- Best B&B or Guesthouse: Park Hall Country House, St Osyth
- Best Self Catering: Thatched Cottages, Burnham-on-Crouch
- Tourist Information Centre of the Year: Southend-on-Sea
- Event/ Festival of the Year: Witham International Puppet Festival
- Outstanding Customer Service: Brian ‘Dick' Barton, Colchester tour guide
- Access for All: Mercury Theatre, Colchester
- Business Tourism: Down Hall Country House Hotel
- Best Caravan Park/Holiday Village: Waldegraves, West Mersea
- Tourism Experience: Rope Runners, Brentwood
- Sustainable Tourism: Marriott Hotel, Waltham Abbey
