Revealed: Staffordshire’s ‘best of the best’ in tourism 2024

The crème-de-la-crème of Staffordshire tourism and hospitality have been crowned at this year’s Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism and Good Food Awards.

More than 40 of the county’s best businesses went head-to-head at the prestigious 10th anniversary awards, staged at Aspects at National Memorial Arboretum, near Lichfield.

An audience of more than 300 guests saw the winners of 20 categories announced, including Alton Towers Resort (Large Visitor Attraction of the Year), The Brampton Museum (Small Visitor Attraction of the Year), and The Flintlock at Cheddleton (Independent Restaurant of the Year).

Hoar Cross Hall was named Hotel of the Year, while The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone, was Pub of the Year, and the World of Wedgwood Tea Room won the Tea Room/Coffee Shop of the Year award.

The Experience of the Year went to Nelson’s Distillery & School, for their Gin Still Experience, while New Business of the Year was The Play Barn @ Round Meadows Farm, near Leek, and Canalside Farm Shop, near Stafford, was the Food & Drink Retailer/Farm Shop of the Year.

B&B and Guest House of the Year was Eagle House Eccleshall, and the Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year award went to Weston Park Holiday Cottages, on the Staffordshire-Shropshire border.

And there were wins for Alton Towers Resort’s Mick Thomas in the Unsung Hero category, Keele University Events & Conferencing (Business Events Venue of the Year) and National Memorial Arboretum, which was successful in the Accessible & Inclusive Tourism and the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism categories.

There was also a special award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in Staffordshire presented to The Evans Family, owners of Denstone Hall Café & Farm Shop, near Uttoxeter, in recognition of their unwavering commitment to protecting the environment and supporting local food & drink producers.

The winners of 16 categories now progress to represent Staffordshire at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, to be held in June 2024.

Tourism in Staffordshire – dubbed the “biggest and best playground in the country” – generates an estimated £2.3 billion for the local economy from tourism, which also employs thousands of people

For full details of all winners, see

Tourist information about visiting, and staying in, Staffordshire is available at www.enjoystaffordshire.com