The Destination Lincolnshire Tourism Excellence Awards 2022

What. A. Night. More than 350 people joined us for the Destination Lincolnshire Tourism Excellence Awards, organised by Stonebow Media in partnership with Lincoln College on Friday 21st October.

Held at The Engine Shed in Lincoln, it's safe to say the venue was transformed by the Stonebow Media team and sponsor Fizzco, into a backdrop we could all be proud of. With a nod to the theme, Chicago, the awards brought together the very best working within the visitor economy, spanning the tourism, hospitality, attractions, accommodation and leisure sectors from across Greater Lincolnshire.

Hosted by John Marshall of Lincs FM, and also sponsored by Visit Lincolnshire, Heart of Lincs, Duncan and Toplis, LNER, insight6, EV Camel, Visual Design and Print, and East Lindsey District Council, for us, the night more than lived up to our hopes. It was a true celebration of visitor economy businesses across Greater Lincolnshire - businesses that encompass everything our incredible county has to offer.

For the winners and finalists alike, the entire night was a chance to let loose and raise a glass to their triumph over every challenge the past few years have thrown at our industry. We were thrilled to see seven of our partners head up onto the stage too, to collect no fewer than 12 awards!

Huge congratulations to double winner International Bomber Command Centre (Lincolnshire's first VisitEngland Gold Award winner in 2020), triple winner Healing Manor Hotel and The Pig & Whistle Pub at Healing Manor Hotel, double winner Play Avenue, The Old Granary, Bridleway Bed and Breakfast, double winner The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company and Lincoln Free Walking Tour.

Clockwise from top left, Lincoln Free Walking Tour, The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company, The Old Granary, and International Bomber Command. All photos courtesy of Steve Smailes/David Harrison at Stonebow Media.

Of course, out of the 15 categories, 12 now go through to the VisitEngland 2023 Awards - including five of our winning partners who will now represent Lincolnshire nationally across the following nine categories: Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award, New Tourism Business Award, Pub of the Year, Resilience and Innovation Award, Self Catering Accommodation of the Year, B&B and Guest House of the Year, Taste of England (Taste Lincolnshire), Small Visitor Attraction and Large Visitor Attraction.

Winners or finalists, it's safe to say everyone had a brilliant night, with delicious dishes featuring local produce from the Salted Orange Food Company.

Charlotte Goy, Chief Executive at Destination Lincolnshire, said: “Created to shine a light on businesses, the Destination Lincolnshire Tourism Excellence Awards celebrated every aspect of the visitor tourism economy, an apt evening to champion all of the innovation, passion, dedication, resilience and tenacity that we have seen from Lincolnshire businesses over the past few years.

“We’ve been working with Visit England to bring this award opportunity to Lincolnshire businesses for a long time. It’s not just about recognition locally, although that is important – during Covid local people supported tourism more than ever before - but this was about elevating Lincolnshire nationally too. And I am thrilled to see so many phenomenal businesses, and partners, heading to the national stage.

“We now have a priceless opportunity to showcase Lincolnshire and everything that makes us great to the whole of the UK, to achieve national recognition - it's within our grasp! In previous years, International Bomber Command Centre has been crowned a gold Visit England national winner, the first business from Lincolnshire to do so, which we are incredibly proud of. Not only is Nicky and her team at IBCC headed to the VisitEngland awards again, but so too are four more of our partners and three more outstanding businesses that are truly raising the bar.”

Katrina Burrill, Partnerships Director at Stonebow Media and MyLocal, said: “Many congratulations to all the winners and finalists! The atmosphere on the night was one of great celebration, for one of the sectors that has been hardest hit over the last two years. The whole team and I are proud to support Lincolnshire businesses that share our same ethos."

Clockwise from top left, a view of the venue, Healing Manor Hotel and The Pig & Whistle at Healing Manor Hotel, the venue, and Play Avenue.

Here's the full list of winners and finalists from the 2022 Destination Lincolnshire Tourism Excellence Awards:

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award

— Sponsored by Visit Lincolnshire

• International Bomber Command Centre – Winner
• Ebb & Flo Living
• Skegness Aquarium
• The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company Limited
• Uncle Henry’s

Experience of the Year

— Sponsored by LNER

• Go Ape Normanby Hall – Winner
• Ebb & Flo Living
• Rand Farm Park
• Skegness Aquarium Dive and Snorkelling Centre
• The Collection Museum

Hotel of the Year

— Sponsored by Destination Lincolnshire

• William Cecil – Winner
• The Petwood Hotel
• The Quayside Hotel & Bar

New Tourism Business Award

— Sponsored by Lincoln College Group

• Play Avenue – Winner
• Lincolnshire Coastal Cottages
• Treetop Hideaways
• Virtually Golf
• Walcot Hall Staycations

Pub of the Year

— Sponsored by Heart of Lincs

• The Pig & Whistle at Healing Manor Hotel – Winner
• Iron Horse Ranch House
• The Cross Keys Stow
• The Six Bells
• The Strait and Narrow

Resilience and Innovation Award

— Sponsored by Visit Lincolnshire

• Healing Manor Hotel – Winner
• Hemswell Antique Centres
• Laceby Manor
• Skegness Aquarium
• Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop

Self Catering Accommodation of the Year

— Sponsored by East Lindsey District Council

• The Old Granary – Winner
• Grange Farm Park
• Home Farm Park
• Lincoln Holiday Retreat
• The Grange – East Barkwith

Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year

— Sponsored by Destination Lincolnshire

• Holivans Caravan Park – Winner
• Bainland Lodge Retreats
• Grange Farm Park
• Hanworth Country Park
• Laceby Manor

B&B and Guest House of the Year

— Sponsored by insight6

• Bridleway Bed and Breakfast – Winner
• Allington Manor
• Clarke’s Farm
• The Grange – East Barkwith
• The Old Kings Head

Taste of England (Taste Lincolnshire)

— Sponsored by Destination Lincolnshire

• The Pig & Whistle at Healing Manor Hotel – Winner
• by Darren Rogan
• International Bomber Command Centre – Hub Café
• The Cross Keys Inn
• The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company

Small Visitor Attraction

— Sponsored by Lincoln College Group

• Play Avenue – Winner
• Bransby Horses
• Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop
• We’ll Meet Again WW2 Homefront Museum
• Wolds Wildlife Park

Large Visitor Attraction

— Sponsored by Destination Lincolnshire

• International Bomber Command Centre – Winner
• Lincoln Castle
• Normanby Hall Country Park & Golf Club
• Skegness Natureland Seal Sanctuary
• Woodside Wildlife Park

Customer Service Excellence Award

— Sponsored by Lincoln College

• The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company – Winner
• Lincoln Castle
• Rand Farm Park
• Skegness Aquarium
• Walcott Hall

Marketing Campaign

— Sponsored by LNER

• The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company – Winner
• Lincoln Holiday Retreat
• Play Avenue
• Teen Spirit

Arts, Culture and Heritage

— Sponsored by Duncan & Toplis

• Lincoln Free Walking Tour – Winner
• New Theatre Royal Lincoln
• NTKO Art Gallery
• St Botolphs Church
• Trinity Arts Centre