North East’s Tourism Superstars Take Flight at National Awards
The region took home five awards at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence
The region took home five awards at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, held under the wings of iconic supersonic aircraft Concorde in Bristol.
Five of North East England’s best places to stay, taste and experience are flying high after a bumper night at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, with two gold, one silver and two bronze awards picked up at the glitzy ceremony in Bristol.
After scooping up awards at the regional North East England Tourism Awards finals in March, Northumberland’s The Tempus hotel, museum and whiskey distillery Ad Gefrin and popular pub, the Kirkstyle Inn & Sportsman’s Rest were joined by Newcastle’s Blackfriars restaurant and innovative business venue The Catalyst at the grand final, which took place under the wings of Concorde Alpha Foxtrot at Aerospace Bristol.
Luxury boutique hotel The Tempus, set within the heart of Charlton Hall Estate in Northumberland, picked up the gold award for Small Hotel of the Year, making it officially one of the best places to stay in England. The Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman's Rest nestled in the breathtaking Northumberland moorlands in Slaggyford was named Pub of the Year, with judges praising its dedicated staff and warm welcome.
Ad Gefrin, the landmark historical attraction that is reviving traditional Northumbrian craft and hospitality in Wooler, bagged the silver award for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year.
Fending off fierce competition in the Business Events Venue of the Year category, The Catalyst, a striking business centre and conferencing venue which houses two national innovation centres, took home Bronze at the event.
They were joined by the ‘UK’s oldest dining room’, Newcastle-based Blackfriars, who also won Bronze for their unique blend of cutting-edge fine dining and historical charm.
The region’s winners join a dazzling roster of businesses celebrated for their quality and commitment to providing exceptional guest experiences.
Finalists at the national awards must first compete at 21 regional competitions across England, with the North East England Tourism Awards continuing to attract the highest number of entries of all VisitEngland affiliated competitions.
Entries for the 2026-2027 awards are now open, with tourism bosses urging businesses to enter before the 27th July closing date. The awards celebrate the best places to stay, dine, visit and experience in North East England across a range of categories. Finalists face two rounds of rigorous judging before winners are announced in Spring 2027.
Businesses can enter the awards now at experiencenortheastengland.co.uk/neeta
We couldn’t be prouder of our national award winners, showcasing magnificently what we already know - that the North East is brimming with unforgettable experiences that create lasting memories for their guests.
Ian Thomas, Interim Chief Executive, Experience North East England, congratulating the winners, said:
“We couldn’t be prouder of our national award winners, showcasing magnificently what we already know - that the North East is brimming with unforgettable experiences that create lasting memories for their guests.
“Our regional awards continue to attract the highest number of entries across all of the competitions in England, and to have five finalists representing us on the national stage demonstrates our region’s commitment to excellence and quality. Our businesses faced some stiff competition but proved last night that the North East really is the place to experience the best of the best.”
The region’s success at the national awards follows the launch of Experience North East England, the new destination marketing agency for the whole region. With a £7 million investment from mayor Kim McGuinness and the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, the agency will inspire and attract domestic and international visitors.
As regional marketing lead for the visitor economy, Experience North East England (Formerly NewcastleGateshead Initiative) will work alongside NewcastleGateshead, Visit County Durham and Visit Northumberland Local Visitor Economy Partnerships, all seven local authorities and Newcastle International Airport to promote the region as a sustainable, world-class destination to visit, meet and invest in.
The awards are a celebration of England’s outstanding tourism industry and an opportunity to highlight the excellence that makes it world leading.
VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said:
“The awards are a celebration of England’s outstanding tourism industry and an opportunity to highlight the excellence that makes it world leading.
“From a hands-on, traditional blacksmith’s visitor experience in the Midlands and a castle hotel and spa set in one of our national parks to accessible and inclusive holidays, these awards showcase the exceptional quality, unparalleled customer service and innovation that drive our industry.
“I congratulate the wonderful range of first-class award recipients, all of whom are so passionate about tourism. They are all deserving winners.”
