Two Lancaster food producers have been crowned winners at the Lancashire Tourism Awards.
Lone Wolf Bakery and Peppered Palette won in the new Taste Lancashire Producers section at the ceremony held at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Tuesday.
Lone Wolf Bakery won in the Bakery, Pies and Pastries category; and Peppered Palette in the Pantry, Preserved and Ready to Eat category.
The bakery is run by Rachael Spence, who first began baking cakes, cookies and sweet treats in her home kitchen in Morecambe, set up her own business operating from home, and opened her first shop at Meeting House Lane in Lancaster in 2023.
Peppered Palette is based at White Cross in Lancaster. The family business, first founded by Todd Guiton in the USA, is renowned for its range of acclaimed Toad Sweat Hot Sauces.
Pictured below, Sherri and Todd Guiton of Peppered Palette
Atkinsons Coffee Roasters and Tea Merchants of Lancaster were also nominated for a Taste Lancashire Food Producer award in the Drinks category.
Finalists in these awards, like the tourism awards, went through a rigorous judging process, including in-person presentations and tastings at Booths supermarket HQ near Preston.
Lancashire Police Museum, based at Lancaster Castle, also won a Judges Commendation Award at the Lancashire Tourism Awards - awarded to a finalist that had impressed in their category, but had just been pipped to the post. They had been nominated for Small Visitor Attraction.
The Grand and the Dukes theatres in Lancaster were nominated in the Cultural Venue category, the award going to the Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery in Rawtenstall. The Dukes' annual Williamson Park show was also nominated for Small Event.
Wonderland Retreats at Carnforth was nominated twice, in the Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park; and New Business categories.
Black Knights Parachute Centre at Cockerham was nominated for Experience of the Year; and Farm Yard Brew Co at Cockerham for Pub of the Year.
Most of the winners in Lancashire’s regional tourism awards now have the chance to progress to the national Visit England Awards for Excellence.
The ceremony was hosted by Mike Stevens of BBC Radio Lancashire.
“We are one of the most visited counties in England and I want us to stay that way," said Vikki Harris from Marketing Lancashire.
"Lancashire has always been a great destination for domestic visitors, but we can’t rest on our laurels. We want people to think that Lancashire is the place to go today, and when they get here we want them to have such a fabulous time, that they come here again and again.
“At Marketing Lancashire we’re passionate about positioning Lancashire as a top visitor destination that truly rivals our neighbouring counties. Our vision is to continue to transform people’s perceptions of Lancashire and in turn grow the visitor economy back to pre-pandemic levels."
Full list of winners:
Large Hotel*
Elgin Hotel, Blackpool
Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park*
Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Newsholme
Accessible & Inclusive Tourism*
Blackpool Zoo
Small Event
Lowther’s Folk, Roots & Maritime Festival, Lytham
Dog Friendly Business
The Millstone, Mellor – part of Daniel Thwaites
New Tourism Business*
Eight at Gazegill by Doug Crampton, Rimington
Business Events Venue*
Anderton Centre, Chorley
Experience of the Year*
Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours
Cultural Venue / Organisation
The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery, Rawtenstall
Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism*
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough
Hospitality and Tourism Student
James Ashworth, Blackburn College
Wedding Venue
West Tower Wedding Venue, Aughton
Hotel Wedding Venue
Stanley House Hotel & Spa, Mellor
Family Owned or Run Business
Staining Lodge Golf Course, Staining
Large Event
Blackpool Dance Festival
Lancashire Perfect Stay - Small Serviced Accommodation*
The Lawrence, Padiham
Large Visitor Attraction *
Blackpool Zoo
Pub*
The Black Bull Old Langho
Small Visitor Attraction *
Spitfire Visitor Centre, Blackpool
Self-Catering Accommodation*
Everything Retreat, Mellor
Taste Lancashire*
Bertram’s Restaurant, Burnley
Unsung Hero Award *
Andrew Reid, The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale
* The winners of these categories will have the opportunity to represent Lancashire in the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025 competition – subject to meeting criteria.
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