Morecambe and Heysham pubs win big at Lancashire Tourism Awards

Pubs from Morecambe and Heysham were among the winners at a county-wide celebration of the best in tourism.

The Bath in Morecambe won the New Tourism Business award and The Royal in Heysham won the Small Serviced Accommodation award at the Lancashire Tourism Awards.

The awards ceremony was held at the Blackpool Winter Gardens on Wednesday evening.

They are the only county-wide awards for tourism and hospitality businesses.

"A huge accolade for not only for business, but every single person in our business who strives to deliver excellence to every guest that walks through our door," said a spokesperson for The Royal inn at Heysham, in a post on Facebook.

"25/26 has been a year of striving for excellence for our offerings, standards and guest experience and we are delighted to share with you, the hard work has paid off. 

"Here’s to an even better 26/27 and giving you all exactly what you need at your favourite Inn of Character."

Below, The Royal at Heysham team celebrating their win

The Bath on Northumberland Street in Morecambe (below) reopened in 2024 following a £400,000 refurbishment, as a craft ale bar with rooms.

Other winners included Brackenthwaite Holidays at Yealand Redmayne, who won the Dog Friendly Business Award. They were also finalists in the Self Catering Accommodation category.

The Farm Yard Brew Co in Lancaster won a Taste Lancashire Producer Award for Beer, Wines and Spirits.

A post on the Farm Yard Brew Co page said: "Big love to the team, our customers (of which there were so many nominated at the awards last night!) and to you lovely lot as always for drinking the stuff and keeping the lights on one pint at a time."

Below, photo from Farm Yard Brew Co Facebook page.

Other local finalists included The Dukes theatre in Lancaster who were also finalists for their popular annual Park Show; Lancaster Walks, Talks and Tours; Lone Wolf Bakery in Lancaster; and Moss Wood Caravan Park in Cockerham; 

Here is the full list of winners.

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award *
Brickhouse Farm Cottages, Hambleton
Sandcastle Waterpark Blackpool
WINNER - WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough 

Business Events Venue Award *
Burnley Football Club
North End Events at Preston North End FC
Stanley House Hotel & Spa, Mellor
WINNER - The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth 
Winter Gardens Blackpool

Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park Award *
Claylands Park, Cabus
WINNER - Stanley Villa Farm Fishing & Camping, Greenhalgh 
The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale

Cultural Venue / Organisation Award
The Dukes, Lancaster
WINNER - The Lowther Pavilion Theatre & Gardens, Lytham 
The Whitaker Museum and Gallery, Rawtenstall
Winter Gardens Blackpool

Dog Friendly Business Award
Affinity Lancashire, Fleetwood
WINNER - Brackenthwaite Holidays, Yealand Redmayne
HAPPA- Horses and Ponies Protection Association, Briercliffe
The Lawrence, Padiham

Experience Award *
Bowland & Bay – Artisan Foodie Adventures, Scorton
Horses and Ponies Protection Association, Briercliffe – WINNER
Lancaster Walks, Talks & Tours

Below, Gregory Wright from Lancashire Walks, Talks & Tours

Family Owned / Run Business Award
Brickhouse Farm Cottages, Hambleton
Elgin Hotel / Hotel Sheraton, Blackpool
Moss Wood Caravan Park, Cockerham 
sō-lō, Aughton
Thornton Hall Country Park, Thornton-in-Craven – WINNER

Hospitality and Tourism Student Award
Emily Broadhurst, North Lancs Training Group, nominated by The Emporium, part of Bowland Inns and Hotels 
George Hainsworth, Blackburn College  – WINNER
Jack Norton, Runshaw College
Jessica Armstrong, Blackpool & The Fylde College 
Lois Atkinson, North Lancs Training Group, nominated by The Britannia Tap & Grill – WINNER
Samuel Kolacz, Blackpool & The Fylde College, nominated by Holiday Inn Preston

Hotel Wedding Venue Award
Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley
Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel and Spa, Clayton-le-Moors
Ribby Hall Weddings, Wrea Green
Stanley House Hotel & Spa, Mellor – WINNER

Large Event Award
Blackpool Dance Festival – WINNER
Farmaggedon, Ormskirk
Farmer Christmas, Ormskirk

Large Hotel Award *
Barton Manor Hotel & Spa, Barton
Big Blue Hotel, Pleasure Beach Resort, Blackpool
Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley – WINNER
Holiday Inn Blackpool
Hotel Sheraton, Blackpool – judges’ commendation

Large Visitor Attraction Award *
Farmer Teds Farm Park, Ormskirk
Mrs Dowsons Farm Park, Clayton-le-Dale
Pleasure Beach Resort, Blackpool – WINNER
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
Showtown Blackpool

New Tourism Business Award *
Go Ape Blackburn
Park Hall Hotel and Spa, Charnock Richard
The Bath Morecambe – WINNER

Pub Award *
Assheton Arms, Downham
Britannia Tap & Grill, Oswaldtwistle
The Black Bull, Old Langho
The Royal Dyche, Burnley – WINNER

Regenerative Tourism Award*
Eight at Gazegill by Doug Crampton, Rimington – WINNER
The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth

Self Catering Accommodation Award *
Brackenthwaite Holidays, Yealand Redmayne
Cuthbert Hill Farm, Chipping
Laythams Holiday Lets Retreat, Slaidburn – WINNER

Small Event Award
Affinity Lancashire’s BIG 30th Birthday Bash, Fleetwood
Chorley Flower Show
Rossendale Pride – WINNER
Santa’s Grotto Experience, Oswaldtwistle
The Dukes Park Show, The Wizard of Oz, Lancaster

Small Serviced Accommodation Award *
Greendale Teahouse & Rooms, Chatburn
The Lawrence, Padiham
The Royal at Heysham – Part of Thwaites – WINNER

Small Visitor Attraction Award *
Astley Hall Museum, Coach House and Park, Chorley
Cedar Farm, Mawdesley
Horses and Ponies Protection Association, Briercliffe – WINNER
The Hole in Wand Blackpool

Taste Lancashire Award *
Bertram’s Restaurant, Burnley
Eight at Gazegill by Doug Crampton, Rimington – WINNER
Greendale Teahouse & Rooms, Chatburn
Lakeside Kitchen, Brickhouse Farm Cottages, Hambleton
The White Bull at Oswaldtwistle

Wedding Venue Award
Beeston Manor, Hoghton
Brockholes Nature Reserve, Samlesbury
The Glass House, Staining
The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth – WINNER
Wennington Hall, Wennington

Unsung Hero Award
Peter Martland Baillie, Founder, Cedar Farm.
Andy Black, Café Manager, The Café at HAPPA. –WINNER
Jenny Moss, Guest Experience Manager, Beeston Manor.
Kate Pollard, Marketing & Events Manager, Affinity Lancashire.

TASTE LANCASHIRE PRODUCER AWARDS
Fish, Field and Dairy Produce Award
Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses, Preston
Procter’s Cheeses Ltd – Kick-Ass Cheese, Chipping
Fernhill Farm Milk and Milkshakes, Poulton-Le-Fylde – WINNER

TASTE LANCASHIRE PRODUCER AWARD
Bakery, Pies and Pastries Award
Williams Handbaked, Preston – WINNER
The Pie Hole Darwen
Haffners Bakery, Burnley
Lone Wolf Bakery, Lancaster

TASTE LANCASHIRE PRODUCER AWARD
Pantry, Preserved and Ready to Eat Award
Market Street Kitchen, Blackpool
Grandma Entwistle’s Lancashire Sauce, Huncoat
Oato, Fulwood- WINNER

TASTE LANCASHIRE PRODUCER AWARD
Beers, Wines & Spirits Award
Blackpool Rock Gin, Lytham-St-Annes
Farm Yard Brew Co, Lancaster- WINNER
Fairham Gin, Preston
The Lancashire Mead Company, Horwich

* Winners in these categories will have the opportunity to go through to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.

The awards were hosted by BBC Radio Lancashire's Mike Stevens.

The ceremony was opened by Vikki Harris, Marketing & Partnerships Director of Marketing Lancashire who welcomed colleagues, sponsors and guests to the only county-wide celebration dedicated to Lancashire’s £5.7billion visitor economy.

"These awards are the culmination of a rigorous process of applications, scoring, and mystery shopping, before each finalist is put before our panels of expert,  impartial, judges," she said.

"Every single one of you that has made it to this point, should be so proud of your business.

"At Marketing Lancashire, we’re passionate about positioning Lancashire as a top visitor destination.

"We do everything in our power to shine a light on your wonderful businesses and help the tourism industry grow by attracting more overseas and domestic visitors with visits and holidays that are best in class for value-for-money and for high-quality service.

"Our industry has a transformational effect on people’s lives, and tourism supports so many other sectors and our thriving communities.  People come here for our events, attractions, world class food, beaches or heritage and all of that underpins why Lancashire is such an incredible place to live.’

Vikki also referenced Lancashire’s role in next year’s Tour de France which will pass through some of the county’s most scenic locations.

"When the Tour de France comes to Lancashire in 2027, the whole world will see just how incredible Lancashire is as the riders traverse the county, battling it out on our most challenging hills to be crowned ‘king of the mountains’.

"The entire race is broadcast live for five hours a day across the globe to 183 countries and is watched by billions of people – literally the best TV advert, and it will firmly put us at the forefront of people’s travel plans."

Read more: Local finalists named in Lancashire Tourism Awards - Beyond Radio